I. The last chapter seems to contradict what I said,

when in order to console those who were not contem-
platives I told them that God had made many ways of
1 Valladolid edition, ch. xxii. ; Escorial, ch. xxxiii.

134 the way of perfection. [chap. XX.

reaching Him, just as He has made “ many mans'ons.” *
I repeat that, His Majesty being God, knows our weak-
ness and has provided for us. He did not say : “ Let
some men come to Me by drinking this water, but let
others come by some other means.” His mercy is so
great that He hinders no one from drinking of the foun-
tain of life. May He be for ever praised ! What good
reasons there were for His forbidding it to me ! Yet,
as He did not order me to refrain from it when first I
approached it, but plunged me into its very depths,
decidedly He will stop no one else. Indeed, He calls us
loudly and publicly to do so. He is so good that He
will not force us to drink it, but He gives it in many
ways to those who try to follow Him, so that none may
go away disconsolate or die ofjthirst. For from this
overflowing river spring many rivulets, some large,
others small, while there are little pools for children —
enough for them, as they would be frightened at much
water — by children, I mean beginners, unformed in
virtue. You see, sisters, there is no fear you will die of
drought on the way of prayer. The waters of comfort
are never so utterly wanting that thirst becomes un-
bearable. Then take my advice ; do not loiter on the
road, but struggle manfully, until you perish in the
attempt, for you only came here for battle. Resolve

2 St. John xiv. 2 : “In domo Patris mei mansiones multae
snnt,” Castle, Intrcd. p. xxviii,

135

CHAP. XX.] MENTAL PRAYER.

firmly to die rather than miss the end of your journey.
If at times our Lord lets you feel parched and arid
during this life — in eternity He will give you abundance of
water with no fear of its ever failing through any fault of
yours. God grant that we may never fail Him ! Amen.

2.’ Let us now consider how to start on this journey.
This is most important, or we might wander off the
right track from the very first : indeed I believe every
thing depends upon it. I do not mean that no one who
is not firmly resolved to persevere in prayer ought to
begin to practise it, for our Lord will gradually lead
her on to perfection. Prayer has such virtue that she
need never fear to lose by it : if she takes but one step
she will be richly rewarded, for it brings us many graces,
great and small. It is like an indulgenced rosary —
one bead earns a certain indulgence and several beads
gain many more, yet if we never used the chaplet, but
kept it shut up in a box, it would be better for us to be
without it. Thus, though many people do not persevere
in prayer, any little progress they have made in it will
give them light for other things, and the farther they
have advanced, the more light they will have. In
short, they will certainly not harm themselves by begin-
ning to practise it : good never brings forth evil. If
you perceive a disposition or wish for prayer in people

3 Escorial edition, ch. xxxiv. Advice to the sisters to en-
courage people to practise prayer..

136

THE WAY OF PERFECTION. [CHAP. XX.

you see, try to remove any fear they may feel of beginning.
I ask you, for the love of God, always to make your con-
versation helpful to your visitors. Your prayers are
for the good of souls, “ for whom you are bound to inter-
cede continually with God, and it seems wrong not to
try to help them in every other possible way. If you
would be a good kinswoman, this is genuine affection :
if you would wish to be a true friend, this is the only
feasible way. Let the truth grow as it ought in your
hearts by meditation and you will know what sort of
love we should bear for our neighbours.

3. This is no time for child’s-play, and worldly friend-
ship, even when innocent, seems nothing else. Neither
with your relations nor with any one else, must you
indulge in such foolish talk as : “ Do you love me ?
Do you not like me ? ” unless it serves some real end
by benefiting a soul. To persuade your kindred, or a
brother, or any other person to listen to and to admit
the truth, some such words and signs of affection, which
are always grateful to the senses, may be needed. Per-
haps he will be better pleased by one kind word, as he
would call it, than by a great deal you might say about
God ; afterwards, however, it will make him more in-
clined to talk about religion. I do not forbid your
using such endearments for a good end ; otherwise they
are useless and may do harm without your knowing it.
Way of Perf. ch. iii. 3-^ ; iv. i, z.

4

CHAP. XX.] INTERCOURSE WITH SECULARS. I37

4. Every one knows you are nuns and that prayer
is your business. Never say to yourselves : “ I do not
wish to be thought good.” People will receive either
profit or harm from what they see in you. It is very
blameworthy of you, who are bound to speak solely
on religious subjects,® to refrain from doing so, unless
sometimes, greater good may be done in this way.
Your intercourse and character must be devout. Let
those acquire it who wish to talk to you, but beware
of learning worldly ways — they would be a hell to you.
Never mind if you are considered ill-bred — still less if
you are taken for a hypocrite — this would be an advan-
tage. No one would wish to see you unless they spoke
your language, foi if one cannot understand Arabic
one does not want to talk to a person who knows no
other tongue : thus the world would neither weary
you nor hurt you, for to spend all your time in learning
a new dialect would be no small hurt. Not having had
my experience, you cannot understand as I do how this
injures the soul, which forgets one thing while learning
another. It is a perpetual source of worry ; this must
by all means be avoided, for peace and quiet of mind

® In most of the Carmelite convents in Spain the following
lines are painted in the lobby :

Hermana, uno de dos :

O callar 6 hablar con Dios ;

Que en la casa de Teresa

Esta ciencia se profesa,

138 THE WAY OF PERFECTION. [CHAP. XXI.

are essential for the prayer of which I am about to speak.
If your acquaintances ask to learn your language,® al-
though it is not for you to teach it to them, yet you
can tell them what great graces are gained by it. Never
tire of doing this, kindly, lovingly, prayerfully, in
order to help your friends, so that, realising its value,
they may seek some master to teach it them. Our
Lord would be doing you no small favour if He enabled
you to persuade some one to practise prayer. When once
one begins to speak of this way of prayer how
many matters there are to discuss, even by one as
faulty as I am ! Alas, I ought to write with both
hands in order not to omit one subject for another.
May it please our Lord to teach it you, sisters, better
than I have hitherto done. Amen.