C
CRATUS
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“I am quite sure I am more afraid of people who are themselves terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.”
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GEddie
Guest
Because those who are terrified of the devil become persecutors and can lead the faith astray?“I am quite sure I am more afraid of people who are themselves terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.”
ICXC NIKA
J
JimR-OCDS
Guest
Not so much that they lead the faithful away, for those with faith have no fear, but rather, they drive unbelievers and seekers away.Because those who are terrified of the devil become persecutors and can lead the faith astray?
ICXC NIKA
Faith in Jesus Christ is more powerful than fear of the devil,
So, faith in Jesus should dispel fear of the devil.
Jim
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Todd977
Guest
She may have had the witch-hunts of her times in mind.
J
JimR-OCDS
Guest
Well she lived through the Spanish Inquisition and herself was brought before the Ecclesiastical Court to justify her teachings on spirituality and prayer.She may have had the witch-hunts of her times in mind.
Thankfully, one of the members of the court was her confessor and advocates.
So, yeah, she’s probably talking about people seeing the devil everywhere and having a disordered fear of him.
Jim
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WJeffrey
Guest
Well she lived through the Spanish Inquisition and herself was brought before the Ecclesiastical Court to justify her teachings on spirituality and prayer.
Thankfully, one of the members of the court was her confessor and advocates.
So, yeah, she’s probably talking about people seeing the devil everywhere and having a disordered fear of him.
Jim/QUOTEI
In her writings, if I am not mistaken, she would relate her personal experiences as being those of another anonymous religious because she was afraid of reprisals for herself, her sisters, and other people supportive of her writings.
Having visited a museum dedicated to the Spanish Inquisition while I was in Columbia, I don’t blame her.
J
JimR-OCDS
Guest
[/quote]JimR-OCDS;13685393:
I never read anything by her that she wrote in an anonymous style.Well she lived through the Spanish Inquisition and herself was brought before the Ecclesiastical Court to justify her teachings on spirituality and prayer.
Thankfully, one of the members of the court was her confessor and advocates.
So, yeah, she’s probably talking about people seeing the devil everywhere and having a disordered fear of him.
Jim[/QUOTEI
In her writings, if I am not mistaken, she would relate her personal experiences as being those of another anonymous religious because she was afraid of reprisals for herself, her sisters, and other people supportive of her writings.
Having visited a museum dedicated to the Spanish Inquisition while I was in Columbia, I don’t blame her.
She always wrote as herself, but also said she wasn’t good at expressing herself in writing.
She was right, her writing isn’t easy to read as she often goes off on tangents before returning to the point she tried to make.
I found St John of the Cross much easier to read, but then, he was well educated compared to Teresa.
Jim
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WJeffrey
Guest
You are probably right Jim. I have been reading so much since I returned to the Church that it could be confused. I would certainly defer to someone who has been trying to cram 30 years of reading into six months.
I read The Way of Perfection about a month after returning. I also read the first 40 or 50 pages of Interior Mansions but put it down to read something else. I keep meaning to get back to it, but I haven’t I think I am reading about 6 books at once right now.
I recalled her writing about the experiences of a generic nuns or religious people that were pretty obvious to modern readers as being her own experiences. Maybe I am reading more into it than I should, or I am thinking about another Saint.
I thought I recalled her generally not attributing things specifically to people unless it is something innocuous.
If I am wrong, just ignore my last post. I like St. Theresa, and the way her mind works. She has a great deal to say and listen too.
I read The Way of Perfection about a month after returning. I also read the first 40 or 50 pages of Interior Mansions but put it down to read something else. I keep meaning to get back to it, but I haven’t I think I am reading about 6 books at once right now.
I recalled her writing about the experiences of a generic nuns or religious people that were pretty obvious to modern readers as being her own experiences. Maybe I am reading more into it than I should, or I am thinking about another Saint.
I thought I recalled her generally not attributing things specifically to people unless it is something innocuous.
If I am wrong, just ignore my last post. I like St. Theresa, and the way her mind works. She has a great deal to say and listen too.
F
fred_conty
Guest
Maybe the devil becomes an obsession with them and they become an obsession to others.“I am quite sure I am more afraid of people who are themselves terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.”
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
Mostly, especially in the Way of Perfection, she was writing for her novices and other nuns, who had just began to follow her spiritual way.You are probably right Jim. I have been reading so much since I returned to the Church that it could be confused. I would certainly defer to someone who has been trying to cram 30 years of reading into six months.
I read The Way of Perfection about a month after returning. I also read the first 40 or 50 pages of Interior Mansions but put it down to read something else. I keep meaning to get back to it, but I haven’t I think I am reading about 6 books at once right now.
I recalled her writing about the experiences of a generic nuns or religious people that were pretty obvious to modern readers as being her own experiences. Maybe I am reading more into it than I should, or I am thinking about another Saint.
I thought I recalled her generally not attributing things specifically to people unless it is something innocuous.
If I am wrong, just ignore my last post. I like St. Theresa, and the way her mind works. She has a great deal to say and listen too.
The Interior Castle is more advanced.
We can use her works, but keep in mind whom she’s addressing herself to.
The first time I tried to read The Way of Perfection, I couldn’t get past the first chapter. It had no meaning for me.
Then, after some years of contemplative prayer, my wife and myself attended a meeting of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites OCDS, and the book came alive and I couldn’t put it down.
However, by the time in our formation we got to St John of the Cross, he took over as my favorite.
The Spiritual Canticle explains my spiritual journey, then the Living Flame of Love, confirmed everything God had brought into my prayer life
Generally, you should have more experience in prayer and an adviser when reading these works, so if it isn’t feeding you, hold off until God brings you along through your spiritual walk. You may be ready, but God alone knows.
Don’t try to cram too much reading. The spiritual life is more than the intellectual understanding, but more of the spiritual experience of having a deeper relationship with Jesus. The reading will confirm you’re experience after you’ve had it. It rarely explains it before hand and for many, makes no sense.
Centered In Christ
Jim
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dianed
Guest
I am a little late in answering/opining this question by five months, but I was browsing and found this question. To answer/opine I note:
She means people who are terrified of the devil somehow miss the point that we have God, that when we turn to God and live good lives, following our Faith, that the devil can’t harm us; that by the very holy name of Our Lord, the devil departs; hence the adversary is not one to be so feared. The people who are more terrified of the devil instead of “putting on the armor of God,” as St. Paul tells us, are scarier than the devil himself, because these people forgot the love, mercy and power of God.
She means people who are terrified of the devil somehow miss the point that we have God, that when we turn to God and live good lives, following our Faith, that the devil can’t harm us; that by the very holy name of Our Lord, the devil departs; hence the adversary is not one to be so feared. The people who are more terrified of the devil instead of “putting on the armor of God,” as St. Paul tells us, are scarier than the devil himself, because these people forgot the love, mercy and power of God.
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