Carmelite Book Studies ~ The Book of the Foundations ~ St. Teresa of Avila ~ Teresa of Jesus: The Book of the Foundations - Discussion of Chapter 18 - St. Teresa of Avila

Thursday, August 18, 2011

The Book of the Foundations - Discussion of Chapter 18 - St. Teresa of Avila - Teresa of Jesus

The Book of the Foundations

of S. Teresa of Jesus

of the Order of our Lady of Carmel

Discussion of Chapter 18

      Chapter 18 Contents

- Of The Foundation Of The Monastery

Of S. Joseph At Salamanca,

In The Year 1570.

- Treats Of Some Important Counsels

For Prioresses

   1. The Saint is invited to Salamanca.—

   2. Hires a house. —

   3. Leaves Avila for Salamanca. —

   4. Laboriousncss of the Saint. —

   5. Increased joy of the nuns. —

   6. Strictness of the Carmelite rule. —

   7. Indiscreet zeal of prioresses. —

   8. Discretion necessary. —

   9. Spiritual and intellectual gifts. —

10. Nuns not to be driven

   towards perfection. —

  11. Imperfections to be borne with. —

  12. The prioresses to be cautious

   in tasking the obedience of the nuns. —

  13. Simple obedience of a nun. —

  14. Another instance.

The aboveDrawing is from:

"St Teresa of Jesus of the Order of Our Lady of Mt Carmel

embracing The Life , Relations, Maxims, and Foundations"

Edited by John J. Burke, C.S.P.

from www.books.google.com]

Page 292 See their Terms of Use on the opening page.

___________________________

Discussion of Chapter 18

▀ Envisioning a Foundation for Salamanca

▀ The Difficulties faced;

The Benefits to be achieved

▀ The Founding of The Monastery of St. Joseph

at Salamanca on November 1, 1570.

▀ Counsels for Prioresses

___________________________________

▀ Envisioning a Foundation for Salamanca

Unike, many of the other foundations,

Malagon, Durueo, Valladolid, Toledo, and Pastrana,

regarding which we have been reading,

this convent did not begin with a donation of

funds or property.

St. Teresa writes that:

"a rector of the Society of Jesus (Jesuit)

[ Martin Gutierrez - foot note # 4]

in Salamanca

wrote to me to say that

- a monastery of our order

would be most useful there...

- giving me reasons for thinking so"

She doesn't provide these reasons.

We know, Salamanca was a "university city",

much like the prestigious academic centers

of Oxford in England, Paris in France

and Bolognia in Italy.

We know from her description,

that Salamanca was very poor.

"I had been hitherto kept back

from founding a house in poverty there,

because the place was very poor.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #1]

"The inhabitants of Salamanca

supported themselves chiefly

by providing board and lodging

for the students".

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: Footnote #5]

▀ The Difficulties faced; The Benefits achieved

She describes some of the obstaces and opposition,

which she had to face at Salamanca:

But these were diminished

by the benefits of the foundation:

The Difficulties:

▪ Poverty

"But, considering

- that Avila is quite as poor,

and

- that God

never abandons,

nor ever will...abandon anyone

who serves Him,

I determined to make the foundation..."

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #1]

▪ Opposition

"...what the devil does

to embarrass one of these monasteries.

Though God did not suffer him

to molest this at the first,

because He would have it founded,

yet afterwards

the trouble and the opposition

we met with

were so great..."

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #2]

▪ Sickness

"being myself, very unwell.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #3]

"again I had sicknesses and fever;

...but I saw clearly

that our Lord was giving me strength.

...while occupied in these foundations,

to find myself

amidst such pains and sufferings..."

I could have done nothing

but lie down on my bed...

complaining to His Majesty...

asking Him

how it was

that He would have me

do what was beyond my power.

His Majesty would then

give me strength,

not without suff'ering however,

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #4]

▪ Difficulty of travel

"the great hardships

of travelling in cold, heat, and snow.

"Once it snowed

the wholeday long,

at other times we missed our road..."

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #4]

"I never refrained

from making a foundation

through fear of trouble,

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #4]

Benefits:

▪ The Praise and Honor given to God

"but when I had once started,

I thought nothing of them (the difficulties)

- looking to Him

in whose service

they were undertaken,

and

- calling to mind

that our Lord would be praised,

and

that the Most Holy Sacrament

would dwell in the house

I was going to found..."

"I know of no trouble,

however great it may be,

that should be dreaded

when it is the condition of obtaining;

so great a good for Christendom;

a great consolation to us...

that Jesus Christ,

true God and true man,

dwells, as He does,

in so many places

in the Most Holy Sacrament".

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #4]

"and so I believe

that God is greatly pleased with it,

seeing that Satan cannot endure it."

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #2]

▪ The Spiritual Advancement of the Nuns

"these souls,

so pure,

intent on the praises of God,

- their obedience and happiness, which

so strict an enclosure

and

solitude

supply them,

and

- their cheertulness

when they have any opportunity

of mortifying themselves.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #5]

▀ The Founding of the Monastery of St. Joseph,

She obtained permission from the Bishop

with the help of that Father Rector,

Martin Gutierrez.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #1]

Little detail is given in this chapter

regarding the description of the house

but the next chapter continues the account.

Here, she does say

that she hired a house

which was occupied by students and

that she made her arrangements "in secrecy"

to avoid opposition,

"...relying on the mercy of God"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #2, 3]

"The house belonged to

Gonzao Yanez de Ovalle"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: Foot note #7]

"We arrived on the eve of All Saints"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #3]

"in the latter end of October.

Her companion was

Mary of the Blessed Sacrament,

(Mary Suarez),

[ Foundations: Ch. 18:Foot note #8]

The Monastery of St. Joseph,
the 7th convent for Discalced Carmelite Nuns

was founded at Salamanca

on November 1, 1570.

[ Foundation: Introduction]

█ Counsels for Prioresses

▀ To Lead nuns

according to the Rule or Constitution

rather than by the Prioress's proclivities or Interest

▀ "The prioresses have to watch...over

the interior state and

the outward demeanour

of their subjects.

▀ "Discretion is a great thing in government,

and exceedingly necessary...

it is a very important thing

to have discretion and

to understand dispositions..."

▀ "Our Lord leads souls onwards

by different roads"

▀ Advise on the Subject of Mortification

▀ To Lead nuns

according to the Rule or Constitution

rather than by the Prioress's Proclivities or Interests

♦ "the prioresses...have...been appointed

...to direct their subjects

according to the rule and constitutions..."

"I ...would rather they kept the rule,

for

- that gives them enough to do,

and

- whatever is beside that

should be done with gentleness.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #7]

~~~~~~~~~

♦ "they have not been appointed

to guide souls by the road

which they like themselves,

even it they have to do violence

to themselves ( force themselves)

and prefer another way.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #6]

"As the prioresses have (themseves)

different gifts and virtues,

so they wish

to direct their nuns accordingly.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #6]

Accordingy St. Teresa advises

not to assign that

which the prioress, hersef, sees

"as easy to do:

it may be so (easy) for her,

and yet perhaps

it may be very hard

( for her nuns) to obey."

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #6]

Conversely,

"we are not to command others to do

what seems very hard to ourselves."

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #6]

St. Teresa then describes instances

of assigning activities according

to one's proclivity

and the difficuties that may result:

▪ When a Prioress is much given

to Penance and Mortification:

- "for whom penance had a great attraction...

directed all the sisters

by that way.

At one time the whole community

took the discipline,

and...other observances of the same kind"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #7]

- given to mortification,

there is to be no rest anywhere"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #7]

- "who is most mortified

will look upon

everything she may order

for the purpose

of subduing the will

as easy to do:

it may be so for her,

and yet perhaps

it may be very hard to obey.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #6]

▪ When a Prioress is much given to Prayer

- "Other prioresses of much spirituality

would be glad

if all were given to prayer"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #6]

- "if the prioress be given to prayer:

she occupies the community therein,

though it be not

the time for prayer,

even after matins,

when it would be much better

if all the nuns went to sleep"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #7]

▀ "the prioresses have to watch...over

the interior state and

the outward demeanour

of their subjects.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #6]

▀ "Discretion is a great thing in government,

and exceedingly necessary

in these houses"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #6]

"and I would have the prioresses,

for the love of our Lord,

look into it;

for in these houses

it is a very important thing

to have discretion and

to understand dispositions..."

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #7]

▀ "Our Lord leads souls onwards

by different roads"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #6]

"...Let (the Prioress) labour to guide each soul

by the way His Majesty is guiding it,

"The prioress must not think

that she sees into souls at once:

let her leave this with God,

who alone can see into them"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #9]

"Though it is most necessary

to enable souls to attain

to liberty and high perfection,

that is not gained in a moment,

and they must therefore

help every one onwards

according to

the intellectual and spiritual gifts

which God has given them.

"it is a very important thing...

to understand dispositions..."

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #7]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

St. Teresa givs an example

of the importance of understanding

and how a nun,

although good,

but lacking in understanding,

may not at first grasp

the "spirit of the rule"

or the knowledge of perfection"

Yet later, after through their own effort and

the example of the prioress and other nuns,

they may "be the most saintly".

"for there are some who

must labour much

before they can arrive

at the knowledge of perfection

and

of the spirit of our rule"

"they may not know

when it is safe

to excuse themselves,

nor when it is not,

and they may be ignorant

of other minute observances"

Yet "afterwards, perhaps,

these very persons

will be the most saintly"

"when they...understood them,

they will keep perhaps with ease"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #8]

She offers a specific example of

"a sister who, great in spirituality,

... but...does not understand

certain things in the constitutions:

the mentioning of the faults

of others in chapter

she considers

to be a want of charity"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #9]

( The weekly"Chapter"

provides, in charity,

correction and guidance

for the nuns

according to each's needs,

as well as,

assistance in the cultivation of

insight and self-knowledge.

[ See aso Blog Appendix #2 ] )

"and yet in other ways

I see that she far surpasses those

who understand the constitutions well".

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #9]

"She, who,

among the eleven thousand virgins,

went and hid herself,

was not the less a saint and martyr:

on the contrary, perhaps

she suffered more than the others

in coming afterwards

alone to offer herself for martyrdom.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #9]

Here, St. Teresa makes reference

to a saintly woman, Cordula,

who was

- overcome by "certain feelings at times

over which she has no control"

and

- "not able to endure"

but did benefit from other's example.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #11]

[ See also Blog Appendix #3 ]

▀ Regarding the subject of mortification,

St. Teresa advises:

■ That penances and prayers

are a source of cultivating humility and love.

But if required

on a persistent ( too frequent) basis

too rigorously,

there is the possibility that:

• "they will do

- great harm

- instead of good,

and

- make the sisters uneasy".

• They can be "a strong temptation"

because the nuns have different strengths,

temperaments, and understanding.

Even the same nun can be

of different mind and strength

at different times

"All this, certainly, is to me

- a source of shame and devotion, and

at times

- a strong temptation,

for the sisters, all absorbed in God,

do not perceive it"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #7]

• They may be a detriment to health

"but I

- fear for their health,

and

- would rather they kept the rule,

for

- that gives them enough to do,

and

- whatever is beside that

should be done with gentleness."

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #7]

St. Teresa expressed her concern

regarding the health of the nuns:

"prayer...even after matins,

when it would be much better

if all the nuns went to sleep"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #7]

[Blog note:

She seems to be referring to prayer

that is extended beyond 11pm

when the nuns would normally

"withdraw for the night's rest".

Matins is part of the Divine Office,

the Liturgy of the Hours,

which was said after 9pm

but extended until 11pm

with examination of conscience,

and meditations which anticipate

the next day' and its prayers

See Blog Appendix #1 ]

• "that mortification of this kind

is not of obligation.

that is the first thing

they have to look to."

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #8]

■ The prioress should be observant of

the state of the nun

the nun's reaction to any assignment or bidding

• If the result is disturbance or anxiety then

◦ "proceed by degrees

till our Lord shall have done this work in her"

"A prioress,

to mortify a sister,

bids her do something...

(If) When it is done

the sister is

so disturbed and tempted

that it would have been better

if such a command

had not been given her,

(then) the prioress should consider

that she cannot make her perfect

by a strong arm,

but should rather dissemble,

and proceed by degrees

till our Lord shall have done

this work in her"

"...lest what is done for the purpose

of bringing her on

— for without this particular form

of perfection

she might be a very good nun —

should be

an occasion of disquiet to her, and

an affliction of spirit,

which is a most dreadful thing".

◦ "If that nun sees the others

doing these things

she, too, by degrees

will do them"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #10]

◦ "she may be saved without this virtue".

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #10]

"Some, then, there are

who will undergo great mortifications...

because our Lord

has endowed their souls with strength

to give up their own will;

others will not be able

to endure even slight ones...

but breaks down under the burden…"

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #11]

■ "The prioresses to be cautious

in tasking the obedience of the nuns."

• "Never command anything,

even for the trial of a sister's obedience,

which may be... even a venial sin".

• She also advised against directives

that could involve risks to health or safety

"There are ways enough

to practise perfect obedience,

and every way

that is free from these dangers

I commend".

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #12]

"...The prioresses should

- be very cautious in dealing with souls

whom they already know

to be obedient,

and

- consider what they are doing.

[ Foundations: Ch. 18: #13]

__________________________

Blog Appendix for Chapter 18

[ Blog Appendix #1 ]

From this Book of the Foundations: Page 430

" THE CONSTITUTIONS

Constitutions For The Sisters

Of The Order Of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel

Of The Primitive Rule Unrelaxed,

Given By The Most Reverend

Father Fray Juan Bautista Rubeo,

   General Of The Said Order, In The Year 1568.

   The Order To Be Observed In Spirituals

1. Let matins be said after nine o'clock,

   and not before, nor so long after

   as not to leave when they shall have been said

   a quarter of an hour

   for the examen of conscience

   touching the spending of the day.

...shall read... the mystery

   on which the meditation is

to be made the next day.

The time to be spent herein shall be such

that precisely at eleven o'clock

a bell shall be rung, and

   the nuns shall withdraw for the night's rest.

...

2. In summer they are to rise at five,

   and continue in prayer till six;

in winter at six, and continue in prayer till seven."

[ Foundations: The Constitutions: page 430 ]

Blog Appendix #2

From this Book of the Foundations:

Beginning on Page 430

THE CONSTITUTIONS

  Constitutions For The Sisters

Of The Order Of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel

Of The Primitive Rule Unrelaxed,

Given By The Most Reverend

Father Fray Juan Bautista Rubeo,

   General Of The Said Order, In The Year 1568.

   OF FAULTS

46. The chapter of faults is to be held,

   according to the Rule, once in each week;

   the faults of the sisters are to be corrected

   with charity.

   ...

47. ... to tell their own or a sister's faults simply,

or in answer to a question from the president.

   ...

48. ... Let the mother prioress or the president,

   with the zeal of charity and the love of justice,

and without any dissembling,

correct the faults lawfully,

[ Foundations: The Constitutions:

   Beginning on page 430 ]

[ Blog Appendix #3 ]

Regarding:

    - "She who,

among the eleven thousand virgins,

went and hid herself,

   was not the less a saint and martyr…"

   [Foundations: Ch. 18: # 9 ]

   - Foundation: Ch18: Foot note #10



  Quaedam autem virgo,

   nomine Cordula,

  timore perterrita,

  in navi nocte illa se abscondit,

  sed in crastinum sponte morti se offerens,

  martyrii coronam suscepit.

  Sed cum eius festum non fieret,

  eo quod cum aliis passa non esset,

  ipsa post longum tempus

cuidam reclusae apparuit,

  precipiens ut sequenti die a festo virginum

  eius quotannis solemnitas recoleretur

  [ Jacobi a Voragine,

   in fest undecim mille Virginum ]

   [ Foundation: Ch18: Foot note #10]

Bloggers' Rough transation and Note:

A certain virgin,

   Cordula by name

terrified in fear

hid herself in the ship that night

but on the morrow, according to the will of God,

   presented/offered herself to death,

she received / took up the martyr's crown.

But with her feast

   not established, not observed

   along with that of the others,

  she, after a long time, appeared to certain hermit;

  She instructed that on the day

   following the feast of the virgins, every year,

  (her own) solemnity should

   be honored / commemorated. **

   [ Jacobus de Voragine

   On the feast of the eleven thousand virgins]

   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

From:

"The Golden Legend: Reading on the Saints"



   The "Book of the Foundations" editor

   has included references

   to the "Golden Legend's chapter

   on St. Ursula and her Companions,

in which Cordula, a virtuous woman,

   hid in terror

   from the dangers her companions faced

but the next day,

   she practiced detachment and surrendered herself

   to Providence and the will of God.

"She who,

among the eleven thousand virgins,

went and hid herself,

   was not the less a saint and martyr:

   on the contrary, perhaps

   she suffered more than the others

   in coming afterwards

   alone to offer herself for martyrdom."

   [Foundations: Ch. 18: # 9 ]

   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  Although this reference to Cordula's suffering

   seems an extravagant comparison

   to the example of a nun's situation,

there are some similarities:

   - Like Cordula, the nun, had different

   strengths and weaknesses apart from their group.

While the St. Ursula and her Companions

courageously endured great suffering

"because our Lord

   has endowed their souls with strength

   to give up their own will"

   Conversely,

   Cordula was not able

   and

"others will not be able

   to endure even slight ones,

   who, not only cannot carry them,

   but breaks down under the burden"

   [Foundations: Ch. 18: # 11 ]

- Like Cordula, who was able to join her

companions on the next day

and so "was not the less a saint and martyr"

"If that nun sees the others doing these things

she, too, by degrees will do them"

   [Foundations: Ch. 18: # 10 ]

   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

From:

"The Golden Legend: Reading on the Saints"

   (Legenda Aurea - The Golden Legend)

by Jacobus de Voragine

   1229-1298

Blessed Jacobus was a Dominican Father

and Archbishop of Genoa.

He excelled as a teacher, administator, peacemaker,

   and helper of the poor

He was beatified by Pope Pius VII in 1816.

** This is referring to former feastdays:

   October 21 as the feastday

   of St. Ursula and her Virgins and Companions

   October 22, is the feastday

   of St. Cordula, Virgin and Martyr

   The traditional (Tridentine) calendar still includes

   St Ursula's feast day of October 21.

End of the Discussion

of Chapter 18

of the

Book of the Foundations

of S. Teresa of Jesus

of the Order of our Lady of Carmel