This passage is adjusted from Chapter 2 of St. Teresa of Ãvila’s The Method of Excellence, very first released in 1577 and equated here by the Rev. John Dalton in 1852.
Believe not, my sis, that since you need to not look for to please nonreligious individuals you will for that reason desire assistance. I ensure you this will not hold true, Never ever aim, by human artifices, to keep yourselves, for then you will pass away of cravings. And as you have actually quit incomes, quit likewise all appreciate food -otherwise all is lost. Let those whom our Lord wants to get incomes address such cares in excellent time, given that it is extremely proper-because it is their occupation.
However for us, sis, it is incorrect. To be solicitous about an earnings from others appears to me to be believing on what others take pleasure in. In spite of all your care, another does not change his mind, nor does he plan the more to bestow an alms. This care delegate Him, who understands how to move all males, who is the Lord of incomes and of their holders. By His command we have actually come here: His words hold true; they can not stop working; let us not abandon Him, and we will have no factor to fear.
Mind this, sis, for it will worry you much when I am dead, and for that reason I leave it to you in composing. When I have least, I am the most devoid of care. And our Lord understands that, to the very best of my viewpoint, our superabundance affects me more than our desiring necessaries.
What do I look after kings and lords, if I want none of their estates, nor aim to please them, and if I am required ever so little to upset God on their account? What care I for their honors, if I comprehend in what a pauper’s chief honor consists? Real hardship has with it a specific self-respect, so that none suffer by it (I mention hardship carried out just for God’s sake). It need not please anybody however Him: it is extremely specific that a person gets numerous good friends by not depending on anybody.
These are the arms that need to be engraved on our banners: these things need to we consistently observe in your home, in clothing, in words, and a lot more in our ideas. As long as these points are observed, have no worry about the decay of the discipline of this home, through the magnificent help. I am positive that if this be really observed, both chastity and whatever else will be far better strengthened, than by extremely delicious structures, versus which I beseech you to be on your guard.
It looks extremely bad, my children, to set up magnificent homes out of the residential or commercial property of the bad. God prohibited this ought to be done; let our homes be bad and suggest in every method. When it comes to those who develop big homes, they have their factors and other pious objectives. However any little corner is big enough for thirteen bad ladies. I inform you (given that rigorous enclosure is needed, and likewise conduces to prayer and commitment), that if they have a piece of ground, with some little hermitages, to retire to prayer, well and good; however from magnificent structures, big homes, and whatever fine and stunning, might God provide us.
This passage has actually been excerpted and adjusted from the initial, consisting of small punctuation modifications, spelling modifications, and other adjustments that have not considerably altered material or intent.