The Trinity and the Seventh Mansions of the Interior Castle: Part II

Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14.23

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. John 14.26

In the previous post, Teresa explained that in the Seventh Mansions of the Interior Castle:

1. God amplifies our understanding of his activity in our life.
2. All three persons of the Trinity speak to the soul.
3. Experiencing the presence of the Trinity is constant instead of intermittent.

Teresa goes on to say: Oh, God help me! How different is hearing and believing these words from understanding their truth in this way! Each day this soul becomes more amazed, for these Persons never seem to leave it any more, but it clearly beholds, in the way that was mentioned, that they are within it. In the extreme interior, in some place very deep within itself, the nature of which it doesn’t know how to explain, because of a lack of learning, it perceives this divine company.

Teresa teaches us we can experience the constant presence of the Trinity within our soul. We can also hear all three Persons of the Trinity speak to us. But, Teresa reminds us our “lack of learning” makes it challenging to understand mystical prayer experiences like this. Through Teresa’s writing we can gain this “learning” and ability to articulate these experiences. First of all her writing helps us understand the mystical prayer experiences we may have already had. Those who’ve been in faith communities that ignore or dismiss mystical prayer experiences or see them as the work of the devil typically don’t have the language and understanding to fully appreciate the work of the Trinity within the soul. Secondly, through reading the Interior Castle, we better understand the presence of the Trinity, the unity God desires to have with our soul, and what mystical prayer experiences may look like in the future as we progress in our spiritual journey.

 

References
For this post I used a translation of The Interior Castle by Kieran Kavanaugh O.C.D. and Otilio Rodriguez O.C.D., ICS Publications, Institute of Carmelite Studies: Washington D.C. Kindle Edition.

All scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version. NRSV  Harper Bibles (2011-11-22). NRSV Bible with the Apocrypha. Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

 

About Dave Small

Jesus Follower, Blogger, Public Speaker. Teresaofavilaturns500.wordpress.com

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Posted in 7th Mansions - Chapter 1