of S. Teresa of Jesus
of the Order of our Lady of Carmel
Discussion of CHAPTER 11
Chapter 11 Contents
Continues
- The Relation
Of The Means Taken
By Dona Casilda De Padilla
To Carry Out Her Holy Design
Of Entering Religion
1. Stephany of the Apostles. —
2. Dona Casilda enters into herself. —
3. Attempts to become a nun. —
4. Her device to gain an entrance
into the monastery. —
5. Casilda's relatives. —
6. She is removed by force
from the monastery.—
7. The family wish her
to enter another order. —
8. Dona Casilda a nun.
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Discussion of Chapter 11
█ Summary
This chapter starts with an interesting semblance
between two girls
- who both wanted to become a nun and
who entered the Carmelite Monastery at Valladolid
- who both were devout in their love of God
and desire to give up all for Him
- who both faced opposition of family
and prospective bridegroom
One ( Sister Stephany of the Apostles)
was "but a peasant"
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #1]
while the other (Dona Casilda)
was an heiress.
Sister Stephanie, prior to her entry
into the convent
had been, at one time, staying
at Dona Maria de Acuna's house
who was the mother of Dona Casilda.
Dona Casilda attended the ceremony
in which Sister Stephany received the Carmelite habit
at the Monastery of the Conception at Valladolid.
Thereupon, Dona Casilda
- "conceived a very great liking;
for the monastery, and
- thought that our Lord
was better served by the nuns".
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #1]
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Initially, St. Teresa writes briefly
of Sister Stephany of the Apostles:
- that she became a Lay Sister at
the Carmelite Monastery of the Conception
at Valladolid
- that she had to contend with the disapproval
of her family and a prospective suitor
who opposed her entry into the convent.
- that "God wrought in her...great graces"
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #1]
- that prior to her entry into the convent,
she had been
"staying at the time in the house
of Dona Maria de Acuna"
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: Foot note #2]
St. Teresa, then, relates
that Dona Casilda De Padilla
the youngest daughter of Dona Maria de Acuna
( both mentioned in Chapter 10)
"came to the ceremony" at Valladolid
when Sister Stephany of the Apostles
"was to take the habit"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Then, St. Teresa continues
the story from from Chapter 10
the story from from Chapter 10
to relate how Dona Casilda De Padilla,
the youngest daughter
of Dona Maria de Acuna and
Don Juan de Padilla Manrique
became a nun.
Her mother
"From the time….(she was) seven years old,
(took her) into her oratory at certain hours, and
(taught her) how to meditate
on the Passion of our Lord...
...go often to confession,
and accordingly
she saw her good desires
to bring them up for God so amply rewarded"
"she used to
- offer up her children to God, and
- implore Him to take them
out of the world,
for she was no longer deluded
as to the scanty esteem
in which it should be held"
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #2]
Although very young,
Dona Casilda began to see a difference in herself:
- "that even saying the rosary
was no longer a pleasure to her
- feared that she might become
even worse and worse, and
- thought she saw clearly
that by coming to this house (Convent)
she could make her salvation certain...
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #3]
- that she was under greater obligations
to work out her own salvation..."
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #5]
"She therefore made up her mind altogether"
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #3]
She strove to explain her vocation
to her family and prospective bridegroom.
Despite, her young years,
she made herself understood
and it was felt that:
"It is His Majesty Himself
who is fighting on its behalf.
It was so visibly now,
for it did not seem
as if Casilda, herself,
were the speaker."
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #5]
"she used such words
as astonished everybody"
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #3]
"She spoke in such a way
as made it plain
it was not she herself who was speaking"
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #4]
Father Master Fray Domingo,
whom was consulted,
"saw at once
that this was the work
of the Spirit of God"
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #5]
Yet, after much opposition,
she remained steadfast in her vocation:
"for the temptations and annoyances
which Satan stirs up
become rather a help to that soul
to whom God sends the light of the truth."
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: #5]
"Dona Casilda made her profession
as Casilda of the Conception,
13th January 1577,
at the age of fourteen,
in virtue of a dispensation
of the pope, Gregory XIII".
[ Foundations: Ch. 11: Foot note #8]
_____________________
End of the Discussion
of Chapter 11
of the
Book of the Foundations
of S. Teresa of Jesus
of the Order of our Lady of Carmel
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