第八章

論述好耶穌如何臨在於蒙受此類恩惠的靈魂——即智性神見——以及由此所帶來的諸般益處。

1. 基督時常臨近靈魂。2. 智性神見的例子。3. 起初令她苦惱。4. 她所受到的神見的效果。5. 此神見帶來謙遜。6. 對天主特殊的認識與愛。7. 當臨在消失時靈魂的孤寂。8. 如何辨別這些恩惠。9. 辨認的確實性。10. 不應引以自傲。11. 此神見很少出於欺騙。12. 如何與神師談論此事。

1. 姐妹們，為了讓你們更清楚地看到我所說的真實，並讓你們知道靈魂越進步，好耶穌就越靠近它，我應當告訴你們：當祂如此選擇時，靈魂無法從祂的臨在中脫離。這從天主陛下以奇妙的顯現與神見與我們交流、彰顯祂之愛的方式上，清楚地顯示出來。若祂悅意助我，我要把這些描述給你們聽，使你們若蒙賜予這些恩惠中的任何一種，不至於感到恐慌。縱然我們自己不曾領受，也應熱切地感謝祂如此與受造物交流——只須看到祂的威嚴與能力是何等超越。

2. 例如，一個人絲毫沒有預料到會有這樣的恩惠，也從未以為自己配得上，卻意識到耶穌基督就在她身旁，雖然無論以肉眼還是靈魂的眼睛都看不到祂。³⁴⁵這稱為智性神見；我也說不清為何有這名稱。我認識一個人，天主賜予了她這個恩惠，以及其後我將描述的另一些恩惠。起初她深感苦惱，因為無法理解：她什麼也看不到，卻如此確信耶穌基督以某種方式顯示自己，以致她無法懷疑這是某種神見，無論它是否出於天主。它帶來的強大效果是強力的印證，說明出於天主；然而她仍感到惶恐，因為她從未聽說過智性神見，也不知道有這樣的事。儘管如此，她確信主的臨在，³⁴⁶祂也以我所描述的方式多次對她說話。在此恩惠之前，她曾聽到有話語說出，卻不知道是誰在說。

3. 這神見讓她感到恐慌，它與想像性神見不同——不是很快消逝，而是持續好幾天，有時甚至超過一年。她極度焦慮地去找神師，³⁴⁷神師問她：若什麼也看不到，她如何知道主在她近旁？又要她描述祂的樣貌。她說她辦不到，也看不到祂的面容，也說不出比已說的更多，只是確信那確實是祂在對她說話，不是她想像力的把戲。儘管人們一再告誡她警惕這神見，她通常還是無法不相信它，尤其是當她聽到那些話：「是我，不要怕。」³⁴⁸

4. 這話帶來的效果如此強大，使她在那一刻無法懷疑其真實性。她深感鼓舞，為有如此好的伴侶而喜悅；她發現，這恩惠大大幫助她時時保持對天主的記念，並極其謹慎地不在任何事上使那位似乎時刻在她身旁、注視著她的主不悅。無論何時她渴望在祈禱中或其他時候向天主陛下說話，祂似乎如此接近，以致不可能聽不到她；然而祂並非每次她希望時都對她說話，而是在意想不到的時刻、在有需要時才說。她清楚地感知祂在她右邊，雖然不是以我們通常感知一個人在身旁的方式，而是以一種更微妙、難以描述的方式。然而這臨在是完全明確、確實的，實際上遠比其他人通常的臨在更是如此——那種臨在我們可能受欺騙；這種則不然，因為它帶來了恩惠與靈性效果，不可能來自憂鬱症。魔鬼也無法以此方式讓靈魂充滿平安、持續渴望取悅天主、以及對一切不引向祂之事物的徹底輕視。隨著時間推移，我的朋友確信這不是邪惡者的作為，因為主越來越清楚地向她顯示這一點。

5. 然而，我知道她時常深感驚慌，有時被困惑所淹沒，無法理解自己何以配得上如此崇高的恩惠。她與我的關係非常親密，³⁴⁹她靈魂中所發生的一切我都清楚，因此我的敘述是完全真實可靠的。這恩惠帶來一種壓倒性的自我卑微感與謙遜；若出於撒旦，則效果恰好相反。³⁵⁰這顯然是天主性的：任何人的努力都無法產生這樣的感受，也無人能以為這益處出於自己，而必須承認是天主之手所賜的禮物。

6. 雖然我相信前幾種恩惠中的一些更為崇高，然而這種恩惠帶來對天主特殊的認識；時常處於祂的同伴中所結出的，是對祂最溫柔的愛，而全心全意奉獻於祂服務的渴望，也比以往所描述的任何渴望更為熾熱。良知因持續感知祂的近在而大大淨化，雖然我們知道天主看見我們所做的一切，但本性使我們傾向於逐漸疏忽遺忘。在這裡這是不可能的，因為主使靈魂意識到祂就在近旁，以不斷向祂——那位靈魂所見或所感受在其旁的主——表達愛意，來預備靈魂領受所提到的其他恩惠。總之，這恩惠所帶來的益處，足以說明它是何等偉大珍貴。靈魂感謝主賜予了一個不配受的人，但這人絕不願以世上任何財富或喜樂來換取它。

7. 當主選擇撤回祂的臨在，靈魂在孤獨中竭盡一切努力設法使祂回來。這幫助不大，因為這恩惠隨祂的意願而來，非憑我們的努力。有時我們可能享有某位聖人的陪伴，³⁵¹那也帶給我們莫大的益處。你們或許問我：若什麼也看不到，如何能知道是基督、還是祂最光榮的聖母、抑或是某位聖人？這個問題這樣的人無法回答，也不知道如何分辨，但事實是無可置疑的。當主說話時，認出祂似乎不難；然而奇妙的是，靈魂無需從某位聖人聽到一個字，便能認出是哪位聖人奉天主之命來作它的同伴與扶助者。

8. 還有其他靈性的事物是無法解釋的。我們無法掌握它們，正說明我們的本性多麼無能理解天主的崇高奧秘。蒙賜這些恩惠的人，應為天主的仁慈驚歎並讚美祂。由於這些特定的恩惠不是每個人都能領受的，凡領受的人都應高度珍視，並更熱切地努力服事天主——因為祂給了她如此特殊的扶助。因此，這樣的人並不因此更自以為高人一等，反而認為自己比世上任何人都更少服事祂；因為她對祂的虧欠比任何人都大，她所犯的任何過失都令她痛心刺骨——在這情形下，本就應該如此。

9. 當你們之中有人感受到所描述的這些效果，蒙主以這方式引領的，便可確信，她的情形既不是欺騙，也不是幻想。我相信魔鬼不可能製造出持續如此之久的錯覺，也無法如此顯著地裨益靈魂、或造成如此的內在平安。這不是他的習慣，就算他有意為之，如此邪惡的受造物也無法帶來這麼多的善；靈魂很快就會被自滿和認為自己比別人優越的念頭所遮蔽。心靈持續處於天主的臨在中、³⁵²將思緒專注於祂，這會激怒魔鬼，以致縱使他曾試過一次，也不會常常重複。天主對那些唯一努力是取悅天主陛下、願為祂的榮耀與光榮捨棄生命的靈魂，是太忠信了，不會允許魔鬼對她們擁有如此大的能力；祂很快就會揭露魔鬼的詭計。

10. 我的主張（一貫如此）是：若靈魂從這些天主恩惠中收穫所描述的效果，縱然天主撤回這些特殊的恩惠，天主陛下仍會讓一切轉為它的益處；就算祂有時允許魔鬼欺騙它，邪惡之靈也只會落得自取其辱。因此，如我對你們所說，女兒們，以這方式受引領的人不需要恐懼。有戒懼之心是好的，我們應當謹慎，不過於自信——因為若這些恩惠使你們變得鬆懈，那就說明它們並非來自天主，因為它們沒有留下我所描述的效果。起初最好在告解的保密下，向一位資格完備的神學家——因為那是我們必須從中得到光的源頭——或某位深有靈修的人說明自己的情況。若你的神師靈修不深，一位好的神學家就比他更合適；³⁵³最理想的是兼具兩者的人。³⁵⁴若他說這不過是幻想，不要因此感到不安；若果真如此，那對你的靈魂傷害或益處都不大。把自己委託給天主的威嚴，求祂不允許你被誤導。

11. 若他說魔鬼在欺騙你，那就更糟了——不過，若他見到了你身上所描述的效果，任何有學問的人都不會這樣說。縱使你的顧問這樣說，我知道，那位與你同在的主必定要安慰並安撫你，並會去到你的顧問那裡，賜給他光明，使他能轉而給你。³⁵⁵若這位神師雖有祈禱習慣，卻從未被天主以這方式引領，他會立刻感到驚慌並加以否定。因此我建議你選擇一位資格完備的神學家，若可能，也兼具靈修的人。院長應允許你這樣做，因為縱然她由於你的良善生活而確信你不會受欺騙，她有義務允許你就此與某人商談，以求彼此安心。與這些人商談之後，就安心吧；不要再為此事煩惱，因為有時並無任何理由恐懼，魔鬼卻激起如此過度的顧慮，使那人光是和神師就此談過一次都無法滿足——尤其若神師缺乏經驗、或膽怯、或要求她再來商談的話。

12. 如此，本應嚴守秘密的事便公開了，³⁵⁶這樣的人遭受迫害與折磨，發現本以為是自己秘密的事如今已人盡皆知。由此帶來許多苦楚，在這樣的時代裡，甚至可能波及整個修會。因此，我告誡所有院長，在這類事情上必須格外謹慎；也不應因有這樣的恩惠而認為某位修女比其他人更有德行。主引領每個人，是以祂認為最好的方式。這恩惠若善加使用，足以預備領受它的人成為天主的大僕人；然而有時主把它賜予最軟弱的靈魂，因此它本身既不應受高估，也不應受輕視。我們必須著眼於德行：最克己、最謙遜、最一心事奉天主的人，才是最聖潔的。然而，在公正的審判官按照每人的功過賞賜之前，我們永遠無法對這些事有十足的把握。到那時，我們會驚訝地發現，祂的判斷與這世界的判斷是多麼不同。願祂永受讚美。阿門。

SPEAKS OF THE MANNER IN WHICH GOD COMMUNICATES WITH THE SOUL BY INTELLECTUAL VISION AND GIVES ADVICE UPON THE SUBJECT. OF THE EFFECTS PRODUCED BY THIS VISION WHEN GENUINE. SECRECY ABOUT THESE FAVOURS IS ENJOINED.

1. Our Lord’s presence accompanying the soul. 2. St. Teresa’s experience of this. 3. Confidence and graces resulting from this vision. 4. Its effects . 5. It Produces humility. 6. And prepares the soul for other graces. 7. Consciousness of the presence of the saints. 8. Obligations resulting from this grace. 9. Signs that this favour is genuine. 10. A confessor should be consulted. 11. Our Lord will enlighten our advisers. 12. Cautions about this vision.

1. To prove to you more clearly, sisters, the truth of what I have been saying and to show that the more the soul advances, the closer does this good Jesus bear it company, it would be well for me to tell you how, when He so chooses, it cannot withdraw from His presence. This is clearly shown by the manners and ways in which His Majesty communicates Himself to us, manifesting His love by wonderful apparitions and visions which, if He is pleased to aid me, I will describe to you so that you may not be alarmed if any of these favours are granted you. We ought, even if we do not receive them ourselves, to praise Him fervently for thus communing with creatures, seeing how sovereign are His majesty and power.

2. For example, a person who is in no way expecting such a favour nor has ever imagined herself worthy of receiving it, is conscious that Jesus Christ stands by her side although she sees Him neither with the eyes of the body nor of the soul.³⁴⁵ This is called an intellectual vision; I cannot tell why. I knew a person to whom God granted both this grace and others I shall describe later on. At first it distressed her, for she could not understand it; she could see nothing, yet so convinced did she feel that Jesus Christ was thus in some way manifesting Himself that she could not doubt that it was some kind of vision, whether it came from God or no. Its powerful effects were a strong argument that it was from Him; still she was alarmed, never having heard of an intellectual vision, nor was she aware that such a thing could be. She however felt certain of our Lord’s presence,³⁴⁶ and He spoke to her several times in the way that I described. Before she had received this favour, she had heard words spoken but had never known who uttered them.

3. She was frightened by this vision which, unlike an imaginary one, does not pass away quickly but lasts for several days and even sometimes for more than a year. She went, in a state of great anxiety, to her confessor³⁴⁷ who asked her how, if she saw nothing, she knew that our Lord was near her, and bade her describe His appearance. She said that she was unable to do so, nor could she see His face nor tell more than she had already done, but that she was sure it was the fact that it was He Who spoke to her and it was no trick of her imagination. Although people constantly cautioned her against this vision, as a rule she found it impossible to disbelieve in it, especially when she heard the words: ‘It is I, be not afraid’³⁴⁸

4. The effect of this speech was so powerful that for the time being she could not doubt its truth. She felt much encouraged and rejoiced at being in such good company, seeing that this favour greatly helped her to a constant recollection of God and an extreme care not to displease in any way Him Who seemed ever by her side, watching her. Whenever she desired to speak to His Majesty in prayer, or even at other times, He seemed so close that He could not fail to hear her though He did not speak to her whenever she wished, but unexpectedly, when necessity arose. She was conscious of His being at her right hand, although not in the way we know an ordinary person to be beside us but in a more subtle manner which cannot be described. Yet this presence is quite as evident and certain, and indeed far more so, than the ordinary presence of other people about which we may be deceived; not so in this, for it brings with it graces and spiritual effects which could not come from melancholia. Nor could the devil thus fill the soul with peace, with a constant desire to please God, and such utter contempt of all that does not lead to Him. As time went on, my friend recognized that this was no work of the evil one, as our Lord showed her more and more clearly.

5. However, I know that she often felt great alarm and was at times overcome with confusion, being unable to account for so high a favour having been granted her. She and I were so very intimate³⁴⁹ that I knew all that passed in her soul, hence my account is thoroughly true and reliable. This favour brings with it an overwhelming sense of self-abasement and humility; the reverse would be the case, did it come from Satan.³⁵⁰ It is evidently divine; no human effort could produce such feelings nor could any one suppose that such profit came from herself, but must needs recognize it as a gift from the hand of God.

6. Although I believe some of the former favours are more sublime, yet this brings with it a special knowledge of God; a most tender love for Him results from being constantly in His company, while the desires of devoting one’s whole being to His service are more fervent than any hitherto described. The conscience is greatly purified by the knowledge of His perpetual and near presence, for although we know that God sees all we do, yet nature inclines us to grow careless and forgetful of it. This is impossible here since our Lord makes the soul conscious that He is close at hand, thus preparing it to receive the other graces mentioned by constantly making acts of love to Him Whom it sees or feels at its side. In short, the benefits caused by this grace prove how great and how valuable it is. The soul thanks our Lord for bestowing it on one unworthy of it, but who would refuse to exchange it for any earthly riches or delight.

7. When our Lord chooses to withdraw His presence, the soul in its loneliness makes every possible effort to induce Him to return. This avails but little, for this grace comes at His will and not by our endeavours. At times we may enjoy the company of some saint,³⁵¹ which also brings us great profit. You will ask me, if we see no one, how can we know whether it is Christ, or His most glorious Mother, or a saint? Such a person cannot answer this question or know how she distinguishes them, but the fact remains undoubted. It seems easy to recognize our Lord when He speaks, but it is surprising how the soul can, without hearing a word from him, recognize which saint has been sent by God to be its companion and helper.

8. There are other spiritual matters which cannot be explained. Our inability to grasp them should teach us how incapable is our nature of understanding the sublime mysteries of God. Those on whom these favours are bestowed should marvel at and praise God’s mercy for them. As these particular graces are not granted to everybody, any one who receives them should esteem them highly and strive to serve God more zealously, since He has given her such special aid. Therefore such a person does not rate herself more highly on this account, but rather thinks she serves Him less than any one else in the world; feeling herself to be under greater obligations to Him than others, any fault she commits pierces her to the heart, as indeed it ought under the circumstances.

9. When the effects described are felt, any of you whom our Lord leads by this way may be certain that it is neither deception nor fancy in her case. I believe it to be impossible for the devil to produce an illusion lasting so long, neither could he benefit the soul so remarkably nor cause such interior peace. It is not his custom, nor, if he would, could such an evil creature bring about so much good; the soul would soon be clouded by self-esteem and the idea that it was better than others. The mind’s continual keeping in the presence of God³⁵² and the concentration of its thoughts on Him would so enrage the fiend that, although he might try the experiment once, he would not often repeat it. God is too faithful to permit him so much power over one whose sole endeavour is to please His Majesty and to lay down her life for His honour and glory; He would soon unmask the demon’s artifices.

10. I contend, as I always shall, that if the soul reaps the effects described from these divine graces, although God may withdraw these special favours, His Majesty will turn all things to its advantage; even should He permit the devil to deceive it at any time, the evil spirit will only reap his own confusion. Therefore, as I told you, daughters, none of you who are led by this way need feel alarm. Fear is good and we should be cautious and not overconfident, for if such favours made you careless, it would prove they were not from God as they did not leave the results I described. It would be well at first to tell your case, under the seal of confession, to a thoroughly qualified theologian (for that is the source whence we must obtain light) or to some highly spiritual person. If your confessor is not very spiritual, a good theologian would be preferable;³⁵³ best of all, one who unites both qualities.³⁵⁴ Do not be disturbed if he calls it mere fancy; if it is, it can neither harm nor benefit your soul much. Recommend yourself to the divine Majesty and beg Him not to allow you to be misled.

11. It would be worse should he tell you the devil is deceiving you, although no learned man would say so if he sees in you the effects described. Even should your adviser say this, I know that the same Lord Who is beside you will comfort and reassure you and will go to your counsellor and give him light that he may impart it to you.³⁵⁵ If the director, though given to prayer, has not been led by God in this way, he will at once take fright and condemn it. Therefore I advise you to choose a qualified theologian and, if possible, one who is also spiritual. The Prioress ought to allow you this, for although she may feel sure that you are safe from delusion because you lead a good life, yet she is bound to permit you to consult some one for your mutual security. When you have conferred with these persons, be at peace; trouble yourself no more about the matter, for sometimes when there is no cause for fear, the demon gives rise to such immoderate scruples that the person cannot be satisfied with consulting her confessor only once on the subject, especially if he is inexperienced and timid or if he bids her consult him again.

12. Thus that which should have been kept strictly private becomes public;³⁵⁶ such a person is persecuted and tormented and finds that what she believed to be her own secret has become public property. Hence she suffers many troubles which may even devolve upon the Order in such times as these. Consequently I warn all Prioresses that great caution is required in such matters; also they must not think a nun more virtuous than the rest because such favours are shown her. Our Lord guides every one, in the way He knows to be best. This grace, if made good use of, prepares one receiving it to become a great servant of God, but sometimes our Lord bestows it on the weakest souls; therefore in itself it is neither to be esteemed nor condemned. We must look to the virtues; she who is most mortified, humble and single-minded in serving God is the most holy. However, we can never feel very certain about such matters until the true Judge rewards each one according to his merits. Then we shall be surprised to find how very different is His judgment from that of this world. May He be for ever praised. Amen.