Exclamations, Or Meditations of The Soul on Its God Exclamation 7 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 7 |
Exclamation VII.
1.
O my hope, my Father, my Creator,
my true Lord, my Brother !
My soul overflows
with joy at remembering
how Thou hast said :
"My delight is to be
with the sons of men." [l]
O Sovereign of heaven and earth !
After such words as these
what sinner should despair ?
Canst Thou find no one else
in whom to delight,
that Thou dost seek out
such a repulsive worm as myself ?
At the baptism of Thy Son,
Thy voice was heard to say
Thou didst delight in Him. [2]
Dost Thou, then,
put us on a par with Him, Lord ?
2.
What infinite mercy !
What favour,
far transcending our deserts !
Can we mortals forget all this ?
Call to mind, my God,
our great misery,
and
look upon our frailty,
for Thou knowest all things.
3.
Ponder, then, my soul, over
the great delight and love
of the Father
in knowing His Son,
of the Son
in knowing His Father,
and
the ardour wherewith the Holy Ghost
unites with Them,
and
how none of the Three Persons
can cease
loving and knowing the others,
because They are one and the same God.
These Sovereign Persons mutually
know, love, and delight in one another.
Why, then, do they need my love ?
Why seek it, O my God ?
What does it profit Thee ?
4.
Blessed, oh blessed
for ever mayest Thou be, my God !
May all things praise Thee without end,
O Lord,
for Thou art infinite !
Rejoice, my soul,
that there is One
Who loves thy God as He deserves,
Who knows His goodness and perfections:
Thank Him for having given us on earth
One Who knows Him
as does His only begotten Son.
5.
Under His protection,
thou canst
approach His Majesty
and
beseech Him,
since He delights Himself in thee,
to let no earthly thing prevent thy
delighting in Him,
and
rejoicing
in the perfections of thy God
and
in the thought
that He deserves to be loved and praised.
Beg Him to aid thee to further,
in some small degree,
the glory of His Name,
that thou mayest truly say:
" My soul doth magnify "
and praise "the Lord ! " [3]
Foot Notes: [1] Prov. viii. 31: Deliciae meae, esse cum filiis hominum. "My delight is to be with the sons of men." _____________________ [2] St. Matt. iii. 17: Hic est filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi complacui. "This is my beloved Son In Whom I am well pleased." _____________________ [3] St. Luke i. 46 : Magnificat anima mea Dominum. "My soul magnifies the Lord" |
End of Exclamation 7 Exclamations, Or Meditations Of The Soul On Its God 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" |
