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"Let Thy Will be Done, Not Mine..."
"True union [with God] can very well be reached, with God's help, if we make the effort to obtain it by keeping our wills fixed on that which is God's will... Oh, how desirable is this union with God's Will! Happy the soul that has reached it! Such a soul will live tranquilly in this life and in the next as well... Oh, how many of us there are who will say we do this, and it will seem to us that we don't want anything else and that we would die for this truth, as I believe I have said! Well, I will tell you... that if what you say is true you will have obtained this favor [union] from the Lord..."
St Teresa of Avila in "The Interior Castle" in "The Collected Works of St Teresa of Avila Vol II" , Washington, DC, ICS Publications, 1980, p349
posted by Holly at 8:49 AM
5 Comments:
Teresa of Avila tells us two very important things here - first, that it is God's Will which needs to be the primary focus of our lives.
What is His Will? That we believe in him and the doctrines of our faith, and obey the moral norms he has laid down for us. Secondly, that we fulfill the responsibilities of the vocation he has called us to. And only after that, are we to attend to what we consider the voice of the Spirit giving us an 'extra' mission, so to speak.
This is God's Will for us as Mothers, and we are meant to follow it in this hierarchy. The voice of the Spirit will never contradict the first two indications of God's Will.
St Teresa also tells us something else very important - she tells us that if we are really really really doing this, and not just fooling ourselves, we will have already reached union prayer with God!
Hhmmm! Now that's enlightening! Deep prayer experiences are possible - contemplation and it's light and darkness - and union with God - but it comes with a heart totally surrendered to God's Will.
Just like Jesus in the Agony of the Garden - let us say "Your Will be done Lord - not mine..." And try to see, as each event and occurance presents itself before us today - let us see God's hand in it - asking us if we will do this, because He asks it of us, out of love for Him.
And like Mary, let us say "Yes".
Thankyou Holly for your continuous insight. The daily scheduled prayer life I've implemented based on MROL has brought me so many fruits. Just this morning I was praying to do Gods will and had a very spiritual experience with Him.
Thaks to you for helping us Moms to learn the value of a rule 0f prayer. Not just a few prayers but actual time spent in closness with God and learning His will.Bless you
Praise God for His Goodness!
Where can I get this book on St. Teresa of Avila?
You can look up ICS Publications on the Internet, or any Catholic Bookstore would be able to order you one - it's a Catholic Spirituality Classic! Amazon.com might carry it too...
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