Contemplative Haven: Misunderstood: A Snippet from the 6th 
Misunderstood: A Snippet from the 6th
A soul in the Sixth Mansions will have trials to bear, and St. Teresa begins with what she calls, "the least of them", that being, the reaction of other people.
When someone desires sanctity, has a deepening prayerlife, and has possibly even had experiences of God in public (not of the person's own volition), others will often react negatively. Accusations will be made, by mere acquaintances, that the person has a "holier-than-thou" attitude, is deluded, is deceiving many, or is trying to make others look sinful in comparison. Even worse, these trials may come from the people who are closest: "Then people whom she had thought her friends abandon her and it is they who say the worst things of all..."
As hurtful as this may be, St. Teresa says it is less painful than the opposite reaction, which is praise. People in the Sixth Mansions are acutely aware that any good they have within themselves or any good thing they accomplish is a gift from God and not due to themselves; praise is almost abhorrent to these souls, because they can see how comparatively recently and how deeply they have been in the state of sin: "So this praise is an intolerable torment..."
But with time and experience, the soul learns not to concern itself with either praise or criticism, and continues on its way. If praised, the soul accepts it as a way of glorifying the Lord, and if criticized, realizes that the Lord is permitting this, in order to help it make progress in the virtues.
The soul actually comes to prefer the criticism, since it is a means for growth. Concerning her detractors, she "conceives a special and most tender love for them and thinks of them as truer friends and greater benefactors than those who speak well of it."
When someone desires sanctity, has a deepening prayerlife, and has possibly even had experiences of God in public (not of the person's own volition), others will often react negatively. Accusations will be made, by mere acquaintances, that the person has a "holier-than-thou" attitude, is deluded, is deceiving many, or is trying to make others look sinful in comparison. Even worse, these trials may come from the people who are closest: "Then people whom she had thought her friends abandon her and it is they who say the worst things of all..."
As hurtful as this may be, St. Teresa says it is less painful than the opposite reaction, which is praise. People in the Sixth Mansions are acutely aware that any good they have within themselves or any good thing they accomplish is a gift from God and not due to themselves; praise is almost abhorrent to these souls, because they can see how comparatively recently and how deeply they have been in the state of sin: "So this praise is an intolerable torment..."
But with time and experience, the soul learns not to concern itself with either praise or criticism, and continues on its way. If praised, the soul accepts it as a way of glorifying the Lord, and if criticized, realizes that the Lord is permitting this, in order to help it make progress in the virtues.
The soul actually comes to prefer the criticism, since it is a means for growth. Concerning her detractors, she "conceives a special and most tender love for them and thinks of them as truer friends and greater benefactors than those who speak well of it."
posted by Gabrielle at 10:55 PM
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