Contemplative Haven: Imaginary Visions (A Snippet from the 6th) 
Imaginary Visions (A Snippet from the 6th)
Note: Anyone who wishes to leave a comment, please feel free to do so; but just to let you know that the next post will be on "Intellectual Visions", if you wish to wait and see how St. Teresa explains the difference between the two.
When a soul receives an imaginary vision, the Lord gives it, "a clear revelation of His sacred Humanity, either as He was when He lived in the world, or as He was after His resurrection; ... he does this so quickly that we might liken the action to a flash of lightning..." An imaginary vision, "far exceeds all that our imagination and understanding can compass," and the soul knows that it is Jesus in the vision because, "He reveals Himself quite clearly as the Lord of Heaven and earth."
Speed is one of the telltale signs that marks an imaginary vision. It must pass quickly, because the soul's interior sight could not withstand the radiance of this type of vision any more than one's human eyes could withstand staring directly at the sun: "The brilliance of this vision is like that of infused light or of a sun covered with some material of the transparency of a diamond..."
St. Teresa explains that if a person is able to look for a long time at the Lord, she believes that this would not be an imaginary vision, but only a, "striking idea [which] creates a picture in the imagination: but this will be a dead image by comparison with the other." With the simple imagination, explains St. Teresa, a person usually builds up the picture little by little, whereas with an imaginary vision, "all of a sudden the whole vision is revealed." Another distinguishing feature of a true imaginary vision is that the individual is not only, "far from expecting to see anything", but the essence of the vision is something which has never even entered the person's mind. The person has no control over the vision; as Father Thomas Dubay explains in, Fire Within:
"It all happens exactly as the Lord wishes; there is no inducing or stopping it. Desire to see or not to see has no effect. If the recipient even tries to focus on some specific aspect of the vision, it simply ceases. God is in entire control."
Neither are these to be confused with corporeal visions, those seen with the human eye. St. Teresa says that, "the medium by which all such things [imaginary visions] are seen", is "interior sight". St. Teresa emphasizes that an imaginary vision is not like a painting; she describes it as being, "really alive, and sometimes even speaks to the soul and shows it things both great and secret." She tells us: "Almost invariably the soul on which God bestows this favour remains in rapture..."
One must never, "beseech or desire Him to lead you along this road" of imaginary visions. St. Teresa gives us six reasons why not:
When a soul receives an imaginary vision, the Lord gives it, "a clear revelation of His sacred Humanity, either as He was when He lived in the world, or as He was after His resurrection; ... he does this so quickly that we might liken the action to a flash of lightning..." An imaginary vision, "far exceeds all that our imagination and understanding can compass," and the soul knows that it is Jesus in the vision because, "He reveals Himself quite clearly as the Lord of Heaven and earth."
Speed is one of the telltale signs that marks an imaginary vision. It must pass quickly, because the soul's interior sight could not withstand the radiance of this type of vision any more than one's human eyes could withstand staring directly at the sun: "The brilliance of this vision is like that of infused light or of a sun covered with some material of the transparency of a diamond..."
St. Teresa explains that if a person is able to look for a long time at the Lord, she believes that this would not be an imaginary vision, but only a, "striking idea [which] creates a picture in the imagination: but this will be a dead image by comparison with the other." With the simple imagination, explains St. Teresa, a person usually builds up the picture little by little, whereas with an imaginary vision, "all of a sudden the whole vision is revealed." Another distinguishing feature of a true imaginary vision is that the individual is not only, "far from expecting to see anything", but the essence of the vision is something which has never even entered the person's mind. The person has no control over the vision; as Father Thomas Dubay explains in, Fire Within:
"It all happens exactly as the Lord wishes; there is no inducing or stopping it. Desire to see or not to see has no effect. If the recipient even tries to focus on some specific aspect of the vision, it simply ceases. God is in entire control."
Neither are these to be confused with corporeal visions, those seen with the human eye. St. Teresa says that, "the medium by which all such things [imaginary visions] are seen", is "interior sight". St. Teresa emphasizes that an imaginary vision is not like a painting; she describes it as being, "really alive, and sometimes even speaks to the soul and shows it things both great and secret." She tells us: "Almost invariably the soul on which God bestows this favour remains in rapture..."
One must never, "beseech or desire Him to lead you along this road" of imaginary visions. St. Teresa gives us six reasons why not:
- it shows a lack of humility;
- a person desirous of visions would be "quite certain" to be deceived by the devil;
- the desire would cause the imagination to persuade the person that he is really having imaginary visions, when in reality, he is not;
- it is presumptuous to wish to choose one's own path instead of allowing the Lord to lead us;
- the trials of those who receive imaginary visions are heavy and of many kinds, and one does not know whether or not one could bear them;
- they may bring one loss rather than the gain that one desired.
As always, St. Teresa reminds us of the fact that imaginary visions, as with any consolations or favours, are bestowed according to the will of the Lord:
"And you must note that you will merit no more glory for having received many of these favours; on the contrary, the fact that you are receiving more imposes on you greater obligations to serve."
posted by Gabrielle at 11:05 AM
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