第一章

本章談「堅毅不懈」對於進入末重居所何等重要，以及魔鬼向我們發動的猛烈戰爭；並論從旅程伊始就走對的路有多麼必要，最後介紹一項實證有效的行動方針。

1. 第二重居所中的靈魂。 2. 他們的處境。 3. 他們的痛苦。 4. 他們無法擺脫自身的不完美。 5. 天主如何呼喚這些靈魂。 6. 堅毅不懈是首要之事。 7. 魔鬼的試探。 8. 世間歡樂的虛妄。 9. 唯獨天主值得被愛。 10. 不該回頭的種種理由。 11. 魔鬼的戰術。 12. 慎選同伴的重要。 13. 須有勇氣。 14. 一開始就期待屬靈安慰是自不量力。 15. 力量在於十字架。 16. 跌倒應使我們站得更高。 17. 信賴與堅持。 18. 收心。 19. 為何必須勤於祈禱。 20. 默想點燃愛火。

1. 接下來想想，是哪些靈魂進入第二重居所、又在那裡做什麼。這個題目我不想多談，因為已在別處詳細論過⁶⁴；我記性不好，免不了會重複自己。倘若能換個方式表達，妳們大概就不會聽厭——畢竟談這類題目的書再多，我們也讀不膩。 2. 城堡的這一帶住的，是已經開始操練祈禱的靈魂。她們明白不該停留在第一重居所，卻往往下不了決心避開犯罪的機會、走出眼前的處境，這是一種極其危險的狀態。

3. 即便如此，她們有時能從周圍的毒蛇毒蟲中脫身、且能領悟必須遠離牠們，這已是極大的恩寵。在某種意義上，這些靈魂所受的苦遠勝過第一重居所的人——雖然她們不再那麼危險，因為已開始看清自己的險境，而且大有指望能更深入城堡。我說她們的苦較深，因為前一階段的人猶如聾啞之人，不能說話倒也不覺得多苦惱；而能聽卻不能講的人，反而最難受。同時，當然不聾比較好——能聽見人對我們所說的話，是顯而易見的好處。

4. 這些靈魂聽得見吾主的呼喚；當她們越靠近至尊陛下所居之處，便越能體會祂是何等慈愛的近鄰——雖然此刻她們可能仍周旋於世間的玩樂與事務、享受與虛榮之中。處在這狀態裡，我們不斷跌入罪中、又再起身；因為和我們同處一地的，是何等毒、何等狠、何等危險的東西，幾乎不可能不被它們絆倒。然而，吾主的憐憫與慈悲也正是這樣深；祂如此渴望我們尋祂、與祂同在，因此千方百計，從不停下對我們的呼喚。祂的聲音如此甘美，可憐的靈魂未能立刻順命便心痛萬分；正如我所說，這比根本聽不見祂還要苦。

5. 我並非說這重居所中所領受的神聖通傳與啟發，與我稍後將描述的相同。在此處，天主藉著虔誠者的話、藉講道或好書，以及種種類似的途徑向靈魂說話。有時祂用疾病、艱難來召喚她們；有時則藉著祈禱中所教的某條真理。儘管她們尋祂的心並不熱烈，天主仍極珍視她們。

6. 姐妹們，別小看這頭一份恩寵；若一時未能立刻回應吾主的聲音，也不要灰心。至尊陛下肯等我們許多日、甚至許多年；尤其當祂看到我們心中有堅毅與良善的渴望時，更是如此。堅毅不懈乃首要之事；只要有這一條，我們便定能受益匪淺。可是這時候，魔鬼會用千百種方式猛攻靈魂；靈魂受的苦比以往更深——因為從前它又啞又聾，至少幾乎聽不見，所抵抗的也微弱無力，活像個對勝利幾乎不抱指望的人。

7. 然而到了此處，理智更為警醒、諸機能更見戒備，於是周遭的廝殺與砲響便無從掩耳。眼下，魔鬼把那些「爬蟲」放到我們身上——也就是諸般關於世界及其歡樂的念頭，他將那些歡樂描繪得彷彿綿綿無盡；又讓我們想起別人對自己的高度看重、想起親友；又告訴我們：在這重居所裡，靈魂總會起意去做的補贖，會如何傷害健康。總之，邪靈在路上佈下千百種阻礙。

8. 耶穌啊！魔鬼在這可憐的靈魂裡掀起了多大的擾攘！它不知該往前、還是退回第一重居所，那滋味多麼難受！這時，理性指出它高估俗物的迷惘，信德則告訴它：唯有什麼，才足以止渴。記憶提醒靈魂：塵世的歡樂無一不收場——它想起那些日子過得安穩的人如何離世；想起有人猝然而逝，旋即被人遺忘；又有人曾何等顯赫，如今卻長眠地下、任蟲蛆所噬，路人從墓旁走過⁶⁵；心裡還湧上許多類似的往事。

9. 意志傾向去愛吾主，並渴望回報這位如此可親的主——祂用無數方式證明祂的愛，尤其是時時與靈魂同在；這位忠信的「情人」從不離去，永遠陪伴靈魂、賜它生命與存在。理智則從旁助力：它讓人看見，不論一生有多長，再也找不到比天主更好的朋友；這世界充滿虛偽；魔鬼向心思描繪的那些俗世歡樂，不過是披著糖衣的麻煩、憂心與煩擾。

10. 理性使靈魂明白：靈心城堡之外既無平安、亦無安穩，便不該再到外頭尋家——它自家裡滿是任憑取用的寶藏。何況不是人人都像它這樣，自己住處便應有盡有；尤其少有這樣一位主人，肯把它一切所願的都賜下——除非它寧願像那浪子一樣，誤入歧途，與豬同槽⁶⁶。這些理由難道不足以擊潰魔鬼的詭計嗎？可是，我的天主啊，世俗習慣的勢力、加上身邊習於此道之人的榜樣，竟把一切毀得乾乾淨淨！我們的信德如此死寂，竟肯信眼所能見、卻不肯信信德所教——雖然眼前明明就見：世俗的生活只結出不快樂這顆果子。這一切都源自我前面所說的「毒念」；若不格外小心，它會像毒蛇咬人那樣使身體腫脹中毒，把靈魂扭曲變形。

11. 一旦中了毒，要醫治便需極大的細心；若不是天主特別的仁慈施援，必致死亡。靈魂在這階段會經歷嚴峻的考驗——尤其當魔鬼從一個人的性情與行事察覺她極可能大有長進時，整個地獄便會聯手逼她回頭。我的主啊！此時何等迫切地需要祢以慈悲，攔阻這靈魂被矇騙、放棄已開展的善工！求祢啟發她明白：她的安危就在於堅持正路，並遠離損友。

12. 對初學者而言，與過屬靈生活的人交往，是極為要緊的事⁶⁷——不僅要與和自己同居一處的人，更要與已深入城堡的人為伴；他們會給她極大的助力，並引她一同向前。靈魂必須下定決心，絕不認輸；魔鬼若見她堅定到寧可失去性命、舒適與他所能給的一切，也不肯退回第一重居所，便會更快地放她一馬。

13. 基督徒當勇敢；切莫學那些在出征途中俯身飲溪水的人（我已不記得是哪段史事了）⁶⁸。要下定決心出去與群魔作戰，並深信沒有比十字架更好的武器。我前面已說過，⁶⁹但事關重要，這裡再說一次：起步時，誰也不可先想著日後可得的回報；這對如此宏偉莊嚴的建築來說，是極為不堪的開頭。建在沙上，很快就會倒。⁷⁰這樣行的靈魂必不斷受沮喪與誘惑之苦——因為在這幾重居所中，並無「天降嗎哪」⁷¹；要再深入幾重，靈魂才會對所臨到的一切都甘之如飴，因為它除了天主的旨意之外，別無所求。

14. 真是一場鬧劇！我們自己裡頭千百樣的障礙、缺點、不完美；德行才剛萌芽，幾乎還沒力氣行動（願天主使它們真的存在！）——竟還不害臊地期待祈禱中要嘗甜頭，又抱怨自己感到枯燥。⁷²

15. 姐妹們，別這樣做。要擁抱妳們淨配親自肩負過的十字架；要記住妳們的座右銘：「為基督受苦最多者，才是最有福之人。」⁷³其餘一切都當視為次要的：若吾主賞了妳們，要懷著感恩之心謝祂。妳或許心想：「天主若給我內在的安慰，我必能堅毅承受外在的考驗。」其實至尊陛下最知道什麼對我們有益；不是我們要去指點祂該如何待我們，祂大可向我們說：「你們不知道你們所求的是什麼。」⁷⁴要記住，這是最重要的——一個開始操練祈禱的人，唯一的目標就是承受考驗，並下決心、竭盡全力使自己的意願與天主的旨意相合。⁷⁵請務必確信：屬靈生活中所能達到的最大圓滿，全在於此（這點我稍後會再說）。誰把這一條操練得最徹底，就從天主領受最高的賞報，並在正路上走得最遠。別以為非得有什麼神祕咒語、玄奧法門，才能達到——我們全部的福樂，就在於遵行天主的旨意。若我們一開頭就立下錯誤的原則：要天主依我們的意志而行、按我們自以為最好的方式引領我們，這座屬靈居所還能立在什麼穩固的根基上？

16. 讓我們各盡其力：留心那些有毒的爬蟲，亦即天主有時容許襲擊、折磨我們、使我們難以驅散的惡念與枯燥。是的，我們大概常嘗到牠們的螫毒！祂容許這事，是要教我們日後更警醒，並看看我們得罪祂時是否真的深感悲痛。因此，若妳偶爾失足陷罪，別灰心，也別停下前進的腳步；天主連我們的跌倒都能化為善果——就像賣解毒劑的商人，先服毒、再服解毒劑，以此證明自己萬靈丹的威力。⁷⁶若我們別無他法可看清自己的缺失，這場交戰本身便足以教我們革除惡習，並讓我們看見放縱生活帶來多大的傷害。還有什麼惡，比我們在自家裡所遇見的更深？若連自己心裡都無平安，又怎能盼望別處給我們平安？再親近的朋友、再近的親人，又哪比得上我們靈魂的諸機能——它們不論我們願不願意，都必永遠陪著我們？而這些機能此刻竟像是知道我們的惡習害了它們，故而向我們宣戰一般。我的姐妹們，請記得吾主對宗徒們再三宣告：「願平安與你們同在，願平安與你們同在。」⁷⁷相信我，倘若我們在家裡既未擁有、也不努力爭取這份平安，到外頭也永遠尋不著。

17. 我憑吾主為我們所流的寶血懇求：尚未開始走入自己內心的人，請停止這場與自己為敵的戰爭；已踏上正路的人，別因戰鬥就退回原處。要想想：「重蹈覆轍」比「初次跌倒」更糟，且看那將招致何等的毀壞。她們該全心仰賴天主的仁慈，半分也別倚靠自己；如此一來，便能親見至尊陛下如何引她們從一重居所走向另一重，並把她們安置在一處，使那些野獸再也碰不到、煩不了她們，反而完全聽她們處置，連譏笑也只配當靶子。如此，即便在今生，她們也將享有遠超自己所能渴想的幸福。

18. 正如本書開頭所言，我已在別處說明過⁷⁸，魔鬼這樣騷擾妳時妳該怎麼做。我也告訴過妳們：「收心」這項習慣不是靠強力打下來，而是靠安詳養成的，如此才能練得長久。⁷⁹此處不再多說，只想補一句：若妳是初學者，去請教在這方面有經驗的人會大有幫助；別以為為了去做必要的本份而暫離祈禱，就是傷害自己。並非如此；吾主會把這類安排化為對我們有益，即使我們身旁無人可商議。⁸⁰已經放下了收心習慣的人，唯一的補救之道，就是重新開始；否則靈魂只會一天比一天失去得更多。願天主使它能及早察覺自己的危險。

19. 妳或許會想：既然中途停下這麼有害，那不如從未開始、乾脆守在城堡外算了。然而正如我一開始便說、並如天主親自宣示的：「愛冒險的人，必死於其中。」⁸¹而我們進入這座城堡的門，正是祈禱。要記得，我們必須到天上；若以為不必有時退入自己的靈魂、認識自己、思及自己的失敗、明白我們欠天主什麼、或時時求祂垂憐，就能上天，那是瘋狂的念頭。吾主也說：「除非經過我，沒有人能到父那裡去。」⁸²（我不確定引述是否一字不差，但意思應如此。）又說：「看見我的，就是看見了父。」⁸³

20. 若我們從不抬頭仰望祂，反省祂為我們捨命，我們欠祂多少；我實在不懂我們怎能認識祂，又怎能在事奉祂時行出善工。沒有行為的信德，有何價值？善工若不與我們唯一的善——耶穌基督的功勞——相連，又值得什麼？若連想都沒想過吾主，又有什麼能挑動我們去愛祂？願祂賜恩，使我們明白自己讓祂付出了多少；明白「僕人不能勝過主人」⁸⁴；明白若想分享祂的榮耀，便當為祂勞苦；明白祈禱是必須的，免得我們常常陷入誘惑。⁸⁵

TREATS OF THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF PERSEVERANCE IN ORDER TO ENTER THE LAST MANSIONS, AND OF THE FIERCE WAR THE DEVIL WAGES AGAINST US. HOW ESSENTIAL IT IS TO TAKE THE RIGHT PATH FROM THE VERY COMMENCEMENT OF OUR JOURNEY. A METHOD OF ACTION WHICH HAS PROVED VERY EFFICACIOUS.

1. Souls in the second mansions. 2. Their state. 3. Their sufferings. 4. They cannot get rid of their imperfections. 5. How God calls these souls. 6. Perseverance is essential. 7. Temptations of the devil. 8. Delusion of earthly joys. 9. God alone to be loved. 10. Reasons for continuing the journey. 11. War fare of the devil. 12. Importance of choice of friends. 13. Valour required. 14. Presumption of expecting spiritual consolations at first. 15. In the Cross is strength. 16. Our falls should raise us higher. 17. Confidence and perseverance. 18. Recollection. 19. Why we must practise prayer. 20. Meditation kindles love.

1. Now let us consider which are the souls that enter the second mansions, and what they do there: I do not wish to enlarge on this subject, having already treated it very fully elsewhere,⁶⁴ for I could not avoid repeating myself, as my memory is very bad. If I could state my ideas in another form they would not weary you, for we never tire of reading books on this subject, numerous as they are. 2. In this part of the castle are found souls which have begun to practise prayer; they realize the importance of their not remaining in the first mansions, yet often lack determination to quit their present condition by avoiding occasions of sin, which is a very perilous state to be in.

3. However, it is a great grace that they should sometimes make good their escape from the vipers and poisonous creatures around them and should understand the need of avoiding them. In some way these souls suffer a great deal more than those in the first mansions, although not in such danger, as they begin to understand their peril and there are great hopes of their entering farther into the castle. I say that they suffer a great deal more, for those in an earlier stage are like deaf-mutes and are not so distressed at being unable to speak, while the others, who can hear but cannot talk, find it much harder. At the same time, it is better not to be deaf, and a decided advantage to hear what is said to us.

4. These souls hear our Lord calling them, for as they approach nearer to where His Majesty dwells He proves a loving Neighbour, though they may still be engaged in the amusements and business, the pleasures and vanities of this world. While in this state we continually fall into sin and rise again, for the creatures amongst whom we dwell are so venomous, so vicious, and so dangerous, that it is almost impossible to avoid being tripped up by them. Yet such are the pity and compassion of this Lord of ours, so desirous is He that we should seek Him and enjoy His company, that in one way or another He never ceases calling us to Him. So sweet is His voice, that the poor soul is disconsolate at being unable to follow His bidding at once, and therefore, as I said, suffers more than if it could not hear Him.

5. I do not mean that divine communications and inspirations received in this mansion are the same as those I shall describe later on; God here speaks to souls through words uttered by pious people, by sermons or good books, and in many other such ways. Sometimes He calls souls by means of sickness or troubles, or by some truth He teaches them during prayer, for tepid as they may be in seeking Him, yet God holds them very dear.

6. Do not think lightly, sisters, of this first grace, nor be downcast if you have not responded immediately to Our Lord’s voice, for His Majesty is willing to wait for us many a day and even many a year, especially when He sees perseverance and good desires in our hearts. Perseverance is the first essential; with this we are sure to profit greatly. However, the devils now fiercely assault the soul in a thousand different ways: it suffers more than ever, because formerly it was mute and deaf, or at least could hear very little, and offered but feeble resistance, like one who has almost lost all hope of victory.

7. Here, however, the understanding being more vigilant and the powers more on the alert, we cannot avoid hearing the fighting and cannonading around us. For now the devils set on us the reptiles, that is to say, thoughts about the world and its joys which they picture as unending; they remind us of the high esteem men held us in, of our friends and relations; they tell us how the penances which souls in this mansion always begin to wish to perform would injure our health: in fine, the evil spirits place a thousand impediments in the way.

8. O Jesus! What turmoil the devils cause in the poor soul! How unhappy it feels, not knowing whether to go forward or to return to the first mansion! On the other hand, reason shows it the delusion of overrating worldly things, while faith teaches what alone can satisfy its cravings. Memory reminds the soul how all earthly joys end, recalling the death of those who lived at ease; how some died suddenly and were soon forgotten, how others, once so prosperous, are now buried beneath the ground and men pass by the graves where they lie, the prey of worms,⁶⁵ while the mind recalls many other such incidents.

9. The will inclines to love Our Lord and longs to make some return to Him Who is so amiable, and Who has given so many proofs of His love, especially by His constant presence with the soul, which this faithful Lover never quits, ever accompanying it and giving it life and being. The understanding aids by showing that however many years life might last, no one could ever wish for a better friend than God; that the world is full of falsehood, and that the worldly pleasures pictured by the devil to the mind were but troubles and cares and annoyances in disguise.

10. Reason convinces the soul that as outside its interior castle are found neither peace nor security, it should cease to seek another home abroad, its own being full of riches that it can enjoy at will. Besides, it is not every one who, like itself, possesses all he needs within his own dwelling, and above all, such a Host, Who will give it all it can desire, unless, like the prodigal son, it chooses to go astray and feed with the swine.⁶⁶ Surely these arguments are strong enough to defeat the devil’s wiles! But, O my God, how the force of worldly habits and the example of others who practise them ruin everything! Our faith is so dead that we trust less to its teaching than to what is visible, though, indeed, we see that worldly lives bring nothing but unhappiness. All this results from those venomous thoughts I described, which, unless we are very careful, will deform the soul as the sting of a viper poisons and swells the body.

11. When this happens, great care is evidently needed to cure it, and only God’s signal mercy prevents its resulting in death. Indeed, the soul passes through severe trials at this time, especially when the devil perceives from a person’s character and behaviour that she is likely to make very great progress, for then all hell will league together to force her to turn back. O my Lord! what need there is here that, by Thy mercy, Thou shouldst prevent the soul from being deluded into forsaking the good begun! Enlighten it to see that its welfare consists in perseverance in the right way, and in the withdrawing from bad company.

12. It is of the utmost importance for the beginner to associate with those who lead a spiritual life,⁶⁷ and not only with those in the same mansion as herself, but with others who have travelled farther into the castle, who will aid her greatly and draw her to join them. The soul should firmly resolve never to submit to defeat, for if the devil sees it staunchly determined to lose life and comfort and all that he can offer, rather than return to the first mansion, he will the sooner leave it alone.

13. Let the Christian be valiant; let him not be like those who lay down to drink from the brook when they went to battle (I do not remember when).⁶⁸ Let him resolve to go forth to combat with the host of demons, and be convinced that there is no better weapon than the cross. I have already said,⁶⁹ yet it is of such importance that I repeat it here: let no one think on starting of the reward to be reaped: this would be a very ignoble way of commencing such a large and stately building. If built on sand it would soon fall down.⁷⁰ Souls who acted thus would continually suffer from discouragement and temptations, for in these mansions no manna rains;⁷¹ farther on, the soul is pleased with all that comes, because it desires nothing but what God wills.

14. What a farce it is! Here are we, with a thousand obstacles, drawbacks, and imperfections within ourselves, our virtues so newly born that they have scarcely the strength to act (and God grant that they exist at all!) yet we are not ashamed to expect sweetness in prayer and to complain of feeling dryness.⁷²

15. Do not act thus, sisters; embrace the cross your Spouse bore on His shoulders; know that your motto should be: ‘Most happy she who suffers most if it be for Christ!’⁷³ All else should be looked upon as secondary: if our Lord give it you, render Him grateful thanks. You may imagine you would be resolute in enduring external trials if God gave you interior consolations: His Majesty knows best what is good for us; it is not for us to advise Him how to treat us, for He has the right to tell us that we know not what we ask.⁷⁴ Remember, it is of the greatest importance—the sole aim of one beginning to practise prayer should be to endure trials, and to resolve and strive to the utmost of her power to conform her own will to the will of God.⁷⁵ Be certain that in this consists all the greatest perfection to be attained in the spiritual life, as I will explain later. She who practises this most perfectly will receive from God the highest reward and is the farthest advanced on the right road. Do not imagine that we have need of a cabalistic formula or any other occult or mysterious thing to attain it our whole welfare consists in doing the will of God. If we start with the false principle of wishing God to follow our will and to lead us in the way we think best, upon what firm foundation can this spiritual edifice rest?

16. Let us endeavour to do our best: beware of the poisonous reptiles—that is to say, the bad thoughts and aridities which are often permitted by God to assail and torment us so that we cannot repel them. Indeed, perchance we feel their sting! He allows this to teach us to be more on our guard in the future and to see whether we grieve much at offending Him. Therefore if you occasionally lapse into sin, do not lose heart and cease trying to advance, for God will draw good even out of our falls, like the merchant who sells theriac, who first takes poison, then the theriac, to prove the power of his elixir.⁷⁶ This combat would suffice to teach us to amend our habits if we realized our failings in no other way, and would show us the injury we receive from a life of dissipation. Can any evil be greater than that we find at home? What peace can we hope to find elsewhere, if we have none within us? What friends or kindred can be so close and intimate as the powers of our soul, which, whether we will or no, must ever bear us company? These seem to wage war on us as if they knew the harm our vices had wrought them. ‘Peace, peace be unto you,’ my sisters, as our Lord said, and many a time proclaimed to His Apostles.⁷⁷ Believe me, if we neither possess nor strive to obtain this peace at home, we shall never find it abroad.

17. By the blood which our Lord shed for us, I implore those who have not yet begun to enter into themselves, to stop this warfare: I beg those already started in the right path, not to let the combat turn them back from it. Let them reflect that a relapse is worse than a fall, and see what ruin it would bring. They should confide in God’s mercy, trusting nothing in themselves; then they will see how His Majesty will lead them from one mansion to another, and will set them in a place where these wild beasts can no more touch or annoy them, but will be entirely at their mercy and merely objects of ridicule. Then, even in this life, they will enjoy a far greater happiness than they are able even to desire.

18. As I said at the beginning of this work, I have explained elsewhere⁷⁸ how you should behave when the devil thus disturbs you. I also told you that the habit of recollection is not to be gained by force of arms, but with calmness, which will enable you to practise it for a longer space of time.⁷⁹ I will say no more now, except that I think it very helpful for those of you who are beginners to consult persons experienced in such matters, lest you imagine that you are injuring yourselves by leaving your prayer to perform any necessary duties. This is not the case; our Lord will direct such things to our profit, although we may have no one to counsel us.⁸⁰ The only remedy for having given up a habit of recollection is to recommence it, otherwise the soul will continue to lose it more and more every day, and God grant it may realize its danger.

19. You may think, that if it is so very injurious to desist, it would have been better never to have begun, and to have remained outside the castle. But, as I began by saying, and as God Himself declares: ‘He that loves danger shall perish by it,’⁸¹ and the door by which we must enter this castle is prayer. Remember, we must get to heaven, and it would be madness to think we could do so without sometimes retiring into our souls so as to know ourselves, or thinking of our failings and of what we owe to God, or frequently imploring His mercy. Our Lord also says, ‘No man cometh to the Father but by Me’⁸² (I am not sure whether this quotation is correct, but I think so), and, ‘He that seeth Me seeth the Father also.’⁸³

20. If we never look up at Him and reflect on what we owe Him for having died for us, I do not understand how we can know Him, or perform good deeds in His service. What value is there in faith without works? and what are they worth if they are not united to the merits of Jesus Christ, our only good? What would incite us to love our Lord unless we thought of Him? May He give us grace to understand how much we cost Him; that ‘the servant is not above his lord’⁸⁴ ; that we must toil for Him if we would enjoy His glory; and prayer is a necessity to prevent us from constantly falling into temptation.⁸⁵