I. Do not be surprised, daughters, at the number of

matters that have to be considered before starting on
® Const. 14.

1 Valladolid edition, ch. j^xiii. j Lscorial, oh. xxxv.

CHAP. XXL] FORTITUDE. 139

the heavenly road that leads to Paradise. This journey
gains such vast treasures that no wonder the cost should
seem dear. Some day we shall discover that all we have
paid was nothing compared with the prize it has pur-
chased for us. Let us return to speak of those who wish
to travel by this path to the very end, and to the fount
itself, where they will drink of the water of life.
Although there are books written on the subject, yet I
do not think it will be waste of time to speak of it here.
How must one begin ? I maintain that this is the
chief point ; in fact, that everything depends on their
having a great and a most resolute determination never
to halt until they reach their journey’s end,^ happen
what may, whatever the consequences are, cost what
it will, let who will blame them, whether they reach
the goal, or die on the road, or lose heart to bear the
trials they encounter, or the earth itself goes to pieces
beneath their feet.® Men will warn us, again and again,
of the risks we run : “ Such a person was lost through
this ; another fell into error through it ; some one else,
who practised prayer, went wrong ; it injures virtue, and
is not fit for women, whom it may lead into illusions ;
it is best for them to keep to their spinning ; they have
no need of all these subtilties — the Pater Noster and

2 “Sic enim incepta pergitur via secure” {Imitation, bk. iii.
ch. xxvii. 5).

3 Life, ch. XV. 5, 7, 8. Castle, M. ii. ch. i. 16, 19,

140

THE WAY OF PERFECTION. [CHAP. XXI.

the Ave Maria are enough for them.” So they are,
sisters ; most certainly they are enough ! You are
always right in founding your prayer on the prayer
that came from our Lord’s own lips. Well may men
say so. If we were not so weak and tepid, we should
need no fresh system of meditation nor any other books,
or prayers, than these.

2. As I said, I am speaking to those who cannot
meditate on other mysteries, which seem to them too
systematic : besides, there are people so fastidious that
nothing pleases them. For these reasons, I think, it
is well to lay down some rules for the beginning, the
middle, and the end of prayer, without discussing any-
thing very sublime, for, as I said, such matters are
already treated of elsewhere. You cannot altogether be
deprived of books — for no one can take these sacred
books away from you * — and if you study them and

* In 1559 the Grand Inquisitor, Don Fernando de Valdes, pub-
lished an Index in which, besides many heretical books, he also
proscribed excellent Catholic works of devotion on the plea
that they were unfit for “the wives of carpenters.” St. Teresa
herself suffered very severely by this unprecedented regulation,
as she tells us in her Life, ch. xxvi. 6 : “ When we were deprived
of many books written in Spanish [literally, “ When they took away
many books” — de romance — “in the vulgar tongue, lest they be
read ”] . . . I felt it deeply — for some of these books were a great
comfort to me, and I could not read them in Latin — our Lord
said to me: ‘ Be not troubled : I will give thee a living book. . . .’
His Majesty has been to me a veritable Book, in which I saw all
truth.” (Morel-Fatio, Les Lectwes de $ainte Theyese, Paris, 1908.)

CHAP. XXI.]

THE LORD S PRAYER.

141

humble yourself, you will need nothing more. The words
of the Gospel, which came from our Lord’s most sacred
mouth, have always been dear to me, and arouse a more
fervent devotion in me than the most carefully-written
and learned books, especially those that were not com-
posed by an approved author, for in such a case I never
cared to glance at them.

3. I will keep close to the side of this Master of all
wisdom. Who perhaps may teach me how to say what
will meet your needs. I do not say that I will explain
these divine petitions — I dare not presume to do so.
Much has been written on the subject, and even if it
had not, it would be absurd for me to undertake the
task. I will only put before you some considerations
on the words of the Pater Noster, for sometimes too man}^
books destroy our devotion just when we need it most.
There is no doubt that a master has a kind feeling for
his pupils, that he wishes them to understand his teaching,
and does his best to make them comprehend it.®

4. Take no notice of the warnings people give you,
or the dangers they suggest. It is absurd to suppose
that one could travel along a road full of bandits to
reach a costly treasure, without running any risks.
Men of the world think happiness consists in journeying

® Escorial edition, ch. xxxvi. Continues the same subject :
that the objections raised by people against mental prayer are
false, and we must not trust everybody’s word.

142 the way OE perfection. [chap. XXI.

peacefully through life, yet for the sake of gaining a
farthing they will sacrifice their sleep night after night,
and leave other people no peace of mind or body. If,
when you are trying to earn or ‘ ‘ bear away ’ ’ this treasure
for yourselves — for, as our Lord says, “ The violent bear
it away ” ® — and are travelling by the royal and safe
road by which our Lord, all the elect, and the saints
passed — if, even then, men warn you of so many dangers,
so many horrors — what must be the risks incurred by
those who seek these riches with no path to guide them ?

0 my daughters ! there can be no comparison between
the hazard of those travellers and our own. Yet such
souls never realise this until they fall headlong into peril,
with no one to help them out of it. Thus they lose
this water altogether ; they drink of it neither much
nor little, and do not even taste it from a pool or streamlet.
How can they travel among so many dangers without
a drop of it to support them ? At the best, they must
die of thirst, for whether we will or no, daughters, we
must all journey to this fountain, although we may
take different routes. Take my advice, and let no one
mislead you by pointing out any other way than prayer.

1 am not discussing here whether mental and vocal
prayer are necessary for everybody, but I say that you
require them both. This is the work of religious : if
any one tells you it is dangerous, look upon him as your

® St. Matt. xi. 12 : “ Violenti rapiunt illud.”

CHAP. XXI.]

OBJECTIONS.

143

greatest danger and shun his company. Keep my words
in mind, for you may need them. A want of humility,
of the virtues, may endanger you, but prayer — prayer !
Never would God permit this ! The devil must have
originated these fears and so brought about, by crafty
tricks, the fall of certain souls that practised prayer.
See how blind men are ! the world never reckons the
thousands who have fallen into heresy and other flagrant
crimes through never practising prayer and not even
knowing what it means — which is a very real danger :
yet, if among the multitudes of souls, Satan, to suit
his own purposes, has won a paltry few who were given
to prayer, people at once take fright at this holy
custom. Let those Christians beware who sanction
their neglect of prayer by this pretext, for they are
avoiding good in order to save themselves from evil.
I never heard of a more malicious fiction — it seems
fiendish.

5. O my God, defend Thyself ! See how men mis-
understand Thy words : permit no weakness in Thy
servants. There is one great mercy : you will always
find some one to help you. The real servant of God,
to whom He gives light to see the true way, when beset
by these fears, only tries to hasten on. He sees clearly
that the devil is going to attack him, and, avoiding the
blow aimed at him, he splits open his enemy’s skull.
Satan’s rage at this exceeds by far any pleasure he receives

144 the way of perfection. [chap. XXI.

from those who gratify him. In troublous times, when
the enemy has sown his cockle and seems leading all
mankind in his wake, half blinded as they are by misguided
zeal, God raises up some one to open their eyes who
bids them look at the mists the devil has raised to hide
the way from them. How great God is ! Sometimes
the one man ’ — there may perhaps be two — who speaks
the truth, overcomes all the rest. By degrees he points
out to them the right course, and courage is given him
by His Maker. If people say prayer is dangerous,® he
endeavours to teach them its benefits by his deeds, if not
by his words. If objections are raised against frequent
Communion, he has recourse more often than before to the
most blessed Sacrament. Thus if only one or two souls,
throwing aside all misgivings, follow the better way, our
Lord gradually regains what had before been lost.

6. Therefore, sisters, banish these misgivings : take
no notice of public opinion. This is no time to believe
everything you hear. Be guided only by those who
conform their lives to that of Christ ; try to keep a good
conscience ; practise humility ; despise all earthly
things ; firmly believe the teaching of our holy Mother
the Church — then you may feel sure you are on the
right road. Cast aside these causeless fears. If any
one tries to frighten you, humbly explain the matter
to him : tell him that our Rule bids us pray constantly *

’ Excl. X. 9. ® Found, ch. iii. 3.

* Rule 5.

CHAP. XXII.] MENTAL PRAYER. 145

— which is the fact — and that you are bound to obey it.
If people say that this only applies to vocal prayer,
ask whether your mind and heart ought not to take
part with your lips ? If they answer ‘‘Yes ” — as they
must, for they can do nothing else — you see that
they admit that you are obliged to practise mental
prayer and contemplation too, if God should give it
you.^®