If, however, the soul has already reached the seventh mansions, it fears nothing: boldly undertaking to suffer all things for God, 2 it gathers strength from its almost uninterrupted union with Him.Ĥ. O My God, how many troubles both interior and exterior must one suffer before entering the seventh mansions! Sometimes, while pondering over this I fear that, were they known beforehand, human infirmity could scarcely bear the thought nor resolve to encounter them, however great might appear the gain. And although for so great a gain all that we must endure is but a poor price to pay, I assure you, daughters, that this pledge of what is in store for us is needed to inspire us with courage to bear our crosses.ģ. The soul is now determined to take no other Bridegroom than our Lord, but He disregards its desires for its speedy espousals, wishing that these longings should become still more vehement and that this good, which far excels all other benefits, should be purchased at some cost to itself. I speak of it as 'sight' because of the comparison I used.Ģ.
I have already said that, 1 even by the imagination, nothing is seen in this prayer that can be called sight. The sight it has enjoyed of Him is so deeply imprinted on the spirit that its only desire is to behold Him again. BY the aid of the Holy Ghost I am now about to treat of the sixth mansions, where the soul, wounded with love for its Spouse, sighs more than ever for solitude, withdrawing as far as the duties of its state permit from all that can interrupt it,
Preparatory to entering the seventh mansions.ġ. Perfect and final indifference to praise or blame. Praise distasteful to an enlightened soul. Outcry raised against souls striving for perfection. Courage needed to reach the last mansions. THIS CHAPTER IS USEFUL FOR THOSE SUFFERING INTERIOR TRIALS.ġ. SOME OF THE LATTER ARE DESCRIBED AND DIRECTIONS HOW TO BEAR THEM GIVEN TO THE DWELLERS IN THIS MANSION. THIS CHAPTER SHOWS HOW, WHEN GOD BESTOWS GREATER FAVOURS ON THE SOUL, IT SUFFERS MORE SEVERE AFFLICTIONS.
Sacred Texts Christianity Index Previous Next The Interior Castle: The Sixth Mansions: Chapter I.
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