St. Teresa of Avila on Meditation

painting of St. Teresa in 1576 at the age of 61.

As I have mentioned, I have a fascination with Medieval women and I spend much time researching them. Imagine my surprise when as I am also a yoga and meditation instructor, I came across this piece from the writings of St. Teresa of Avila on meditation:

"And though men may attain more quickly to the state of contemplation, if they persevere, by this way of inability to exert the intellect, yet is the process more laborious and painful; for if the will have nothing to occupy it, and if love have no present object to rest on, the soul is without support and without employment--its isolation and dryness occasion great pain, and the thoughts assail it most grievously. Persons in this condition must have greater purity of conscience than those who can make use of their understanding; for he who can use his intellect in the way of meditation on what the world is, on what he owes to God, on the great sufferings of God for him, his own scanty service in return, and on the reward God reserves for those who love Him, learns how to defend himself against his own thoughts, and against the occasions and perils of sin. On the other hand, he who has not that power is in greater danger, and ought to occupy himself much in reading, seeing that he is not in the slightest degree able to help himself."

(The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus, of the Order of Our Lady of Carmel by Teresa. Chapter IV. 11. Gutenberg. written before 1567.)

This is something that everyone should understand, the benefits of meditation and what it does for us and what it offers us in the way of keeping the mind pure and spiritually focused. Without it, we are deluged with mental chatter, clutter and chaos which we have difficulty clearing or defending ourselves against.

St. Teresa lived in the sixteenth century so it is enlightening indeed to find such a piece on meditation in that time.

If you are interested to study Medieval Women and their lives, check out my book,

The Medieval Women's Dictionary. Available at Lulu and Amazon. 

Get your journey on! Your soul-journey.

From Author, Angel Intuitive & Yoga Instructor, 

Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam, CYI-250
Empowering YOU for a happier,soul-filled life

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About Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam

Cheryl Yale-Bruedigam, the angels’ author, has been writing spiritually for thirty years. With undergraduate studies in English and women's studies, she devoted over a decade of research and writing to women’s studies and women's spirituality. For the past five years, she has been diligently working in Angelology, as well as publishing a series of books on angelic guidance. 

Bruedigam is a certified yoga and meditation instructor. She lives in New Mexico with her husband.

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