. PROLOGUE 1. Obedience. 2. The Saint is bidden to write. 3. She will be truthful. 4. Her plan. 5. The Saint makes excuses for herself. 6. Takes pains to be exact. . |
Discussion of the Prologue
of the Book of the Foundations
St. Teresa praise the virtue of Obedience"
"in which...the will is definitely given up
to the will of God,
through that subjection of self to him
who stands in His place."
(the Confessor / Superior is a
representative of God)
▀ "the great treasure hidden
in this priceless virtue..."
▀ "the great blessing it is
for a soul never to withdraw
from under obedience"
She described the blessings of Obedience:
► "growth in Goodness...
► gaining of Humility...
► Security
amidst the doubts
whether we are not straying
from the heavenly road,
▪ that rest
which is so dear to souls
desirous of pleasing God...
▪ for, if they...
- have made
their understanding captive
...to holy obedience...
- seeking no other will
but that of their confessor,
Satan refrains from assailing them...
▪ our restless movements (impuses) cease
...fond of having their own way,
...making the reason subject to them
in those things
which can give us pleasure…"
[ Foundations: Prologue #1 ]
► Strength
St. Teresa said of herself:
"I seem very often, and
I am naturally worthless,
unable to bear my burden,
Our Lord said to me,
'Child, obedience gives strength.' "
[ Foundations: Prologue #2 ]
. The intended contents of this book: 1). Monastery of S. Joseph in Avila: In 1562, while at the Monastery of S. Joseph in Avila, Father Garcia of Toledo, her Confessor, asked her to write an account of the establishment of this Monastery "I was ordered ... by my confessor, the Dominican friar, Father Garcia of Toledo, to write the history of the foundation of the monastery" 2). The Successive Monasteries: Later, in 1573, her Confessor, the Master Ripalda, Father Rector of the Society, asked her to write regarding: a) the 7 other monasteries that were founded for nuns after that first monastery b) the monasteries founded for the friars "— eleven years have passed since then —" "I am now in Salamanca, in the year 1573 and my Confessor, the Master Ripalda, Father Rector of the Society, has ordered me to write" (He) "thought it would be a service done to our Lord if I committed to writing ▪ the story of the other seven" monasteries which, by the goodness of our Lord, have since that time been founded, and ▪ told at the same time how the monasteries of the barefooted fathers of the primitive rule began". 3). Prayer and Hinderances to progress in prayer: "They bid me also, if I have the opportunity, to speak of prayer, and of the delusions incident thereto which keep men of prayer from making progress" [ Foundations: Prologue #2 ] . |
| . End of the Discussion of the Prologue of the Book of the Foundations . |
