Exclamations, Or Meditations of The Soul on Its God Exclamation 2 S. Teresa of Jesus of the Order of our Lady of Carmel St. Teresa of Avila ░░░░░░░░░░░░ "Written By The Holy Mother Teresa Of Jesus On Different Occasions, According To The Devotion Imparted To Her By Our Lord After Holy ComMunion. A.D. 1569." ░░░░░░░░░░░░ From the Book, "Minor Works Of St. Teresa Conceptions Of The Love Of God Exclamations, Maxims And Poems" |
Exclamations, Or Meditations of The Soul on Its God Exclamation 2 |
Exclamation II
1.
Often do I think, O my Lord,
that if aught can soothe a life
apart from Thee
it is solitude,
wherein the soul rests with Him
Who is its true repose.
Yet,
unable as it is
to enjoy Thee with full liberty,
its torment often redoubles.
Yet this is a delight
compared with that of being forced
to deal with creatures,
and
thus deprived of holding converse
alone with the Creator.
But how is it, my God,
that rest wearies the soul
which only seeks to please Thee ?
2.
O sovereign love of God,
how different are thine effects
from those of earthly love,
which seeks no companion,
fearing lest it should lose
what it possesses !
Love for my God increases
on learning that others love Him,
and
its joys diminish at seeing
that all men do not share its happiness.
3.
Therefore, O my only Good,
during Thy tenderest
caresses and consolations,
I grieve at remembering
the many hearts
which do not desire these joys,
and
still others
who will lose them for ever.
Thus my soul seeks company,
gladly leaving its own delight,
moved by the hope
that it may incite souls
to strive to attain it.
But, O my heavenly Father !
Were it not better
to defer this care for others
until the soul enjoys
less of Thy favours,
and
to yield myself now wholly
to enjoying Thee ?
4.
Oh, my Jesus !
How deep is Thy love
for the children of men !
The greatest service
we can render Thee
is to leave Thee,
for the sake
of loving and aiding them.
of loving and aiding them.
Then do we possess Thee most entirely,
for, though our will enjoy Thee less,
yet love delights to please Thee.
During this mortal life,
all worldly delights are found
to be uncertain
even though they seem
to come from Thee,
unless the love of our neighbour
bear them company.
Who loves not his brethren,
loves not Thee, my Lord,
for Thy blood, shed for us,
bears witness to Thy boundless love
for the sons of Adam.
End of Exclamations, Or Meditations Of The Soul On Its God Exclamation 2 S. Teresa of Jesus of the Order of our Lady of Carmel St. Teresa of Avila From the Book, "Minor Works Of St. Teresa Conceptions Of The Love Of God Exclamations, Maxims And Poems" |
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