THIS CHAPTER SPEAKS OF THE MANNER IN WHICH GOD COMMUNICATES WITH THE SOUL BY
IMAGINARY VISIONS. STRONG REASONS ARE GIVEN FOR NOT DESIRING TO BE LED IN
THIS WAY; THIS IS VERY PROFITABLE READING.
1. The jewel in the locket. 2. The simile explained. 3. The apparition
explained. 4. Awe produced by this vision. 5. False and genuine visions. 6.
Illusive visions. 7. Effects of a genuine vision. 8. Conviction left by a
genuine vision. 9. Its effects upon the after conduct. 10. A confessor
should be consulted. 11. How to treat visions. 12. Effects of seeing the
face of Christ. 13. Reasons why visions are not to be sought. 14. The second
reason. 15. Third reason. 16. Fourth reason. 17. Fifth reason. 18. Sixth
reason. 19. Additional reasons. 20. The virtues more meritorious than
consolations. 21. Fervent souls desire to serve God for Himself alone.
1. Now we come to treat of imaginary visions, whereby it is held that the
devil is more liable to deceive people than by the other visions I have
already described. This is probably true. Yet when imaginary visions are
divine, they seem, in a certain manner, more profitable for us than the
others, as being more suited to our nature--with the exception of the visions
sent by our Lord in the seventh mansion which far surpass all others. The
presence of our Lord described in the last chapter may thus be symbolized.
Let us suppose that we have in our possession a gold locket containing a
precious stone of the highest value and powers, which, though we have not
seen it, we are certain is in the case, and its virtues benefit us when we
wear the pendant. Although we have never gazed on it we value it highly,
knowing by experience that it has cured us of maladies for which it is
remedial. However, we dare not look at it nor open the locket nor could we
do so even if we wished, for the owner of the jewel alone knows the secret
of unfastening its casket. Although he lent it us for our use, yet he kept
the key for himself; he will open the trinket when he chooses to show us its
contents and close it again when he sees fit to do so.
2. Our Lord treats us here in this way. Now, suppose the owner of this
locket suddenly opened it at times for the benefit of the person to whom he
has entrusted it; doubtless the latter would value the diamond more highly
through remembering its wonderful lustre. This may be compared to what
happens when our Lord is pleased to caress the soul. He shows it in vision
His most sacred Humanity under whatever form He chooses; either as He was
during His life on earth [357] or after His resurrection. [358] The
vision passes as quickly as a flash of lightning, yet this most glorious
picture makes an impression on the imagination that I believe can never be
effaced until the soul at last sees Christ to enjoy Him for ever. Although I
call it a 'picture,' you must not imagine that it looks like a painting;
Christ appears as a living Person Who sometimes speaks and reveals deep
mysteries. You must understand that though the soul sees this for a certain
space of time, it is no more possible to continue looking at it than to gaze
for a very long time on the sun; therefore this vision passes very quickly,
although its brightness does not pain the interior sight in the same way as
the sun's glare injures our bodily eyes.
3. The image is seen by the interior sight alone; but of bodily apparitions
I can say nothing, for the person I know so intimately never having
experienced anything of the kind herself could not speak about them with
certainty. [359] The splendour of Him Who is revealed in the vision
resembles an infused light like that of the sun covered with a veil as
transparent as a diamond, if such a texture could be woven, while His
raiment looks like fine linen. The soul to whom God grants this vision
almost always falls into an ecstasy, nature being too weak to bear so dread
a sight. I say 'dread,' though this apparition is more lovely and delightful
than anything that could be imagined even though any one should live a
thousand years and spend all that time in trying to picture it, for it far
surpasses our limited imagination and understanding; yet the presence of
such surpassing majesty inspires the soul with great fear.
4. There is no need to ask how the soul knew Who He was or who declared with
absolute certainty that He was the Lord of heaven and earth. This is not so
with earthly kings; unless we were told their names or saw their attendant
courtiers, they would attract little notice. O Lord, how little do we
Christians know Thee! What will that day be in which Thou comest as our
Judge, since now, when Thou comest as a Friend to Thy spouse, the sight of
Thee strikes us with such awe? O daughters! what will it be when He says in
wrath: 'Go, accursed of my Father?' [360] Let this impression be the result
of this favour granted by God to the soul and we shall reap no little
benefit from it, since St. Jerome, saint as he was, ever kept the thought of
the last judgment before his eyes. [361] Thus we shall care nothing what
sufferings we endure from the austerities of our Rule, for long as they may
last, the time is but a moment compared to this eternity of pain. I
sincerely assure you that, wicked as I am, I have never feared the torments
of hell [362] for they have seemed to me as nothing when I remembered that
the lost would see the beautiful, meek and pitiful eyes of our Lord turned
on them in wrath. [363] I have thought all my life that this would be more
than my heart could bear.
5. How much more must any one fear this to whom our Lord so revealed Himself
in vision here as to overcome her feelings and produce unconsciousness! This
must be the reason that the soul remains in a rapture: our Lord strengthens
its weakness so as to unite it to His greatness in this sublime communion
with God. When any one can contemplate this sight of our Lord for a long
time, I do not believe it is a vision but rather some overmastering idea
which causes the imagination to fancy it sees something; but this illusion
is only like a dead image in comparison with the living reality of the other
case.
6. As not only three or four, but a large number of people have spoken to me
on the subject, I know by experience that there are souls which, either
because they possess vivid imaginations or active minds, or for some other
reason of which I am ignorant, are so absorbed in their own ideas as to feel
certain they see whatever their fancy imagines. If they had ever beheld a
genuine vision, they would recognize the deception unmistakably. They
themselves fabricate, piece by piece, what they fancy they see: no after
effects are produced on the mind, which is less moved to devotion than by
the sight of a sacred picture. It is clear that no attention should be paid
to such fancies, which pass more quickly than dreams from the memory.
7. In the favour of which I speak, the case is very different. A person is
far from thinking of seeing anything, no idea of which has crossed the mind,
when suddenly the vision is revealed in its entirety, causing within the
powers and senses of the soul a fright and confusion soon changed into a
blissful peace. Thus, after St. Paul was thrown to the ground, a great
tempest and noise followed from heaven; [364] so, in the interior world of
the soul, there is a violent tumult followed instantly, as I said, by
perfect calm. Meanwhile certain sublime truths have been so impressed on the
mind that it needs no other master, for with no effort of its own, Wisdom
Himself has enlightened its former ignorance.
8. The soul for some time afterwards possesses such certainty that this
grace comes from God that whatever people may say to the contrary it cannot
fear delusion. Later on, when her confessor suggests doubts to her, God may
allow such a person to waver in her belief for a time and to feel misgivings
lest, in punishment for her sins, she may possibly have been left to go
astray. However, she does not give way to these apprehensions, but (as I
said in speaking of other matters) [365] they only affect her in the same
way as the temptations of the devil against faith, which may disturb the
mind but do not shake the firmness of belief. In fact, the more severe the
assault, [366] the more certain is she that the evil one could never have
produced the great benefits she is conscious of having received, because he
exercises no such power over the interior of the soul. He may present a
false apparition but it does not possess such truth, majesty, and efficacy.
9. As confessors cannot see these effects, which perhaps the person to whom
God has shown the vision is unable to explain, they are afraid of deception,
as indeed they have good reason to be. Therefore caution is necessary and
time should be allowed to see what effects follow. Day by day, the progress
of the soul in humility and in the virtues should be watched: if the devil
is concerned in the matter, he will soon show signs of himself and will be
detected in a thousand lies. If the confessor is experienced and has
received such favours himself, he will not take long in discovering the
truth. In fact, he will know immediately, on being told of the vision,
whether it is divine or comes from the imagination or the demon: more
especially if he has received the gift of discerning spirits--then, if he is
learned, he will understand the matter at once even though he has not
personally experienced the like.
10. The great point is, sisters, that you should be perfectly candid and
straightforward with your confessor: I do not mean in declaring your sins
that is evident enough--but in giving him an account of your prayer. [367]
Unless you do this, I cannot assure you of your safety nor that you are led
by God. Our Lord desires that we should be as truthful and open with those
who stand in His place as we should with Himself; that we should wish them
to know not only our thoughts but especially all relating to our actions,
however insignificant. Then you need feel no trouble nor anxiety [368]
because even if your vision were not from God, it could do you no harm if
you are humble and possess a good conscience, for His Majesty knows how to
glean good from evil. What the devil intended to injure you will benefit you
instead: believing that God has granted you such signal favours, you will
strive to please Him better and will keep His image ever before your memory.
11. A great theologian [369] once said that he should not trouble himself
though the devil, who is a clever painter, should present before his eyes
the living image of Christ, which would only kindle his devotion and defeat
the evil one with his own weapons. However wicked an artist may be, we
should reverence his picture if it represents Him Who is our only good. This
great scholar held that it was very wrong to advise any one who saw a vision
of our Lord to offer it signs of scorn, [370] because we are bound to show
respect to the portrait of our King wherever we see it. I am sure that he
was right, for even in the world any one who was on friendly terms with a
person would take it as an offence were his portrait treated with contempt.
How much more should we always show respect to a crucifix or a picture of
our heavenly Sovereign wherever it meets our gaze! Although I have written
about this elsewhere, I am glad of the opportunity of saying it now for I
know some one who was deeply pained at being bidden to behave in this way. I
know not who can have invented such a torture for one who felt bound to obey
the counsel given by her confessor, for she would have thought her soul was
at stake had she disobeyed him. My advice is, if you are given such an
order, that humbly alleging the reasons I have set before you to your
confessor, you should not carry it out. I am perfectly satisfied with the
motives given for doing so by him who counselled me on this subject.
12. One great advantage gained by the soul from this favour shown by our
Lord is that when thinking of Him or of His life and Passion, the
remembrance of His most meek and beautiful face brings with it the greatest
consolation. In the same way, we feel happier after having seen a benefactor
than if we had never known him personally. I can assure you that the
remembrance of the joy caused by this vision gives us the greatest comfort
and assistance.
13. Many other advantages result; but as I have written elsewhere [371] at
length about the effect these visions produce, and must do so again later
on, I will say no more now lest I weary us both. But I most earnestly advise
you, when you know or hear of God's bestowing these graces on others, never
to pray nor desire to be led by this way yourself though it may appear to
you to be very good; indeed, it ought to be highly esteemed and reverenced,
yet no one should seek to go by it for several reasons. Firstly, as it is a
want of humility to desire what you have never deserved, I do not think any
one who longs for these graces can be really humble: a common labourer never
dreams of wishing to be made a king--the thing seems impossible and he is
unfit for it; a lowly mind has the same feeling about these divine favours.
I do not believe God will ever bestow these gifts on such a person, as
before doing so He always gives thorough self-knowledge. How can that soul,
while filled with such lofty aspirations, realize the truth that He has
shown it great mercy in not casting it into hell?
14. The second reason is that such a one is certain to be deceived or at
least is in great danger of delusion, for an entrance is thus left open to
the devil, who only needs to see the door left ajar to slip in at once and
play us a thousand tricks.
15. Thirdly: when people strongly desire a thing, the imagination makes them
fancy they see or hear it, just as when a man's mind is set upon a subject
all day he dreams of it at night.
16. Fourthly: it would be very presumptuous of me to choose a way for myself
without knowing what is good for me. [372] I should leave our Lord, Who
knows my soul, to guide me as is best for me so that His will may be done in
all things.
17. Fifthly: do you think people on whom our Lord bestows these favours have
little to suffer? No, indeed! their trials are most severe and of many
kinds. How can you tell whether you would be able to bear them?
18. Sixthly: perhaps what you think would be your gain might prove your
loss, as happened to Saul when he was made king. [373] In short, sisters,
there are other reasons besides these; believe me, it is safer to wish only
what God wishes, Who knows us better than we know ourselves and Who loves
us. Let us place ourselves entirely in His hands so that His will may be
done in us; we can never go astray if our will is ever firmly fixed on this.
19. Know that for having received many favours of this kind, you will not
merit more glory but will be the more stringently obliged to serve, since
you have received more. God does not deprive us of anything by which we
merit more, for this remains in our own control. There are many saints who
never knew what it was to receive one such favour, while others who have
received them are not saints at all. Do not imagine that these gifts are
continually bestowed; indeed, for one that is granted, the soul bears many a
cross, so that instead of longing to receive more favours, it only strives
to use them better.
20. True, such a grace is a most powerful aid towards practising the virtues
in their highest perfection, but it is far more meritorious to gain them at
the cost of one's own toil. I was acquainted with some one, [374] indeed
with two people (of whom one was a man), on whom our Lord had bestowed some
of these gifts. They were both so desirous of serving His Majesty at their
own cost without these great consolations and so longed to suffer for His
sake, that they remonstrated with Him for giving them these favours, and if
it had been possible would have refused to receive them. When I say
'consolations,' I do not mean these visions which greatly benefit the soul
and are highly to be esteemed, but the delights given by God during
contemplation.
21. I believe that these desires are supernatural and proper to very fervent
souls who wish to prove to God that they do not serve Him for pay; so as I
said, such people do not urge themselves to work harder for Him by the
thought of the glory they will gain, but rather labour to satisfy their
love, of which the nature is to toil for the Beloved in a thousand ways.
Such souls would fain find a way to consume themselves in Him, and were
there need that, for the sake of God's greater glory, they should be
annihilated for ever, they would count it great gain. May He be for ever
praised Who, in abasing Himself to hold converse with us miserable
creatures, vouchsafes to manifest His greatness! Amen.
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[357] Life, ch, vii, 11.
[358] Ibid. xxix, 4.
[359] Life, ch, vii. 11, 12.
[360] St. Matt. xxv. 41: 'Discedite a me, maledicti, in ignem +ªternum.'
[361] 'Whenever I ponder on the Day of Judgment I am overwhelmed by the
thought and tremble from head to foot.' (St. Jerome). The following saying
is by some attributed to St. Jerome, though not to be found in his works:
'Whether I eat or drink, or whatever else I do, the dreadful trumpet of the
last day seems always sounding in my ears: Arise, ye dead, and come to
judgment.' (Alban Butler, Life of St. Jerome). The Life of Christ by Ludolf
of Saxony gives this quotation with the word vox instead of tuba (part ii.
ch. lxxxvii. 9).
[362] Life, ch. iii.
[363] Excl. xiii, 3.
[364] Acts ix. 3, 4.
[365] Castle, M. vi. ch. iii. 12.
[366] Way of Perf ch, xl. 4.
[367] Life, ch. xxvi. 5; xxviii. 21.
[368] Way of Perf. ch. xl. 3.
[369] This was Father Dominic Ba+¦ez. Found. ch. viii. 3. Life, ch. xxix. 6,
7 and note.
[370] Letters of Blessed John of Avila (translated by the Benedictines of
Stanbrook), i. 5, p. 19.
[371] Life, ch. xxviii. 13, 4.
[372] St. Teresa, when led in this way, always asked to be delivered from
favours so dangerous as visions, etc. See Life, ch. xxv. 20; xxvii. 3.
[373] I. Reg. xv. 26-28.
[374] Life, ch. xl. 27. She herself was one, and the other, no doubt, was
St. John of the Cross.
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