Di Nomba Faiv Places Wey Soul Dey Stay

To Enter di Paschal Mystery through di Prayer of Union

Lesin Forty-Three: Person No Fit Describe Am

As soul dey enter di nomba faiv places wey soul dey stay, e dey begin discover say nobody fit use words describe di mystical language wey God dey use and wetin E dey communicate to di soul.

OH, my sisters, how I go take describe di riches, treasures and joy wey dey inside di nomba faiv mansions! E no go better make I no talk anything about dem? Nobody fit describe dem, mind no fit imagine dem, and no comparison fit show how dem be, because all di things for dis world too low to fit do dis work (V.I #1).

We dey use human language and ideas about things for dis world to share wetin dey our mind with one another. We dey use pictures, comparisons, word-pictures and short stories to explain wetin we mean. But since wetin God dey begin communicate for these places no be things of dis world, every attempt to put dem into human words no fit succeed. Even so, Saint Teresa dey do her best to tell her sisters and us about dem.

Because nobody fit use human language and ideas describe wetin person come know about di “riches, treasures and joy” wey e dey meet for these places, you must read dis chapter with humble understanding of dis limit. Di words wey we use no go fit explain well wetin dey wait for your soul when God invite you to enter here.

As you dey read dis chapter, keep dis humble understanding for mind. Make e no surprise you say di way we describe these places no go enough to make you understand exactly wetin dey happen there. Instead of allowing dis one to discourage you, let am fill you with desire to enter these places yourself, so that God Himself fit teach you and show you these hidden treasures with di language wey only God fit speak.

Think About Am: You don ever experience something wey make you no fit find words to talk? Maybe you see person show love without thinking of im own gain, and di thing touch you so much that you no know wetin to talk or how to react. Na wetin dey happen for these places be dis. As God begin communicate with you for new way, you no go fit describe wetin just happen.

Think about one time for your life when dis kind thing happen to you. Something like dis don ever happen when you dey pray? You don ever sense say God dey speak to you for prayer, for such way that you know say di experience no come from yourself, but na God dey speak? If na so, make you rejoice say, at least for that moment, God bring you enter dis place.

If dis language seem strange to you as you dey read dis chapter, no let am discourage you. If God never speak to you for dis deeper and mystical way, then use di lessons for dis chapter to encourage yourself to go deeper. Go back to di lessons from di earlier places wey soul dey stay, and work to practise dem more perfectly, so that when God call you come here, you go ready to answer and freely accept Im invitation.

Lord wey dey fill me with di deepest awe, I know say di riches, treasures and joy wey dey wait for me pass anything wey I fit ever hope for or describe. I thank You for everything wey You don do inside my soul reach now, and I willingly offer myself to You so that You fit do everything wey You desire to do inside me. Make I wait for You and answer You when You call me, without holding anything back, but surrendering everything di moment You call.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Forty-Four: Di Prayer of Union 

To understand better wetin dey happen inside di nomba faiv places wey soul dey stay, we need to understand “Di Prayer of Union.” Even though you no go remain all di time for dis kind prayer wey grace make possible, God go invite you at di right time to experience dis prayer and enjoy di effects wey di experience go continue to bring.

For di prayer of union, di soul dey sleep, deep sleep, as e concern di world and itself: in fact, for di short time wey dis state dey last, di soul no dey feel anything at all, and e no fit think about any matter, even if e want to. Person no need to make any effort here to stop di thoughts: if di soul fit love, e no know how, or who e dey love, or wetin e desire. In fact, e don die completely to dis world, so that e go live more truly inside God than ever before (V.I #3).

Saint Teresa continue to explain say dis state of prayer no dey usually reach half-hour. During dis time of mystical union, some things dey happen. First, human ideas, memory, reasoning, and imagination no fit help at all during dis prayer. Na why God “dey take all di senses away from di soul so that He fit impress true wisdom on am better: di soul no dey see, hear, or understand anything as long as dis state last.” For one way, di spirit no dey aware again of di senses of di body and all wetin e don learn through those senses. Instead, God dey communicate directly with di spirit through His silent and spiritual language. Dis communication dey give di person new wisdom wey pass anything wey e fit ever gain through im own effort.

Di second thing wey dey happen be say, when di person wake from dis time of mystical union, e no fit doubt wetin happen. Instead, e know say e don encounter God for one very deep level, one level wey nobody fit ever explain finish. Even if na only once di person experience dis depth of prayer for im whole life, and na many years ago, e go always know say God communicate with am for dis mystical way. E no go ever doubt di experience of union.

Reflection: You don ever experience di prayer of union? Any time don dey wey you dey pray and you “wake” from dat prayer, knowing say something wey change you don happen, but you no fit explain am? If e never happen, then look forward to dis kind prayer. Get hope for dis precious gift and dey expect am. If e don happen, which good fruit e bear for your life?

When person don dey live firmly inside di fifth set of room dem, di main aim no suppose be to dey always get mystical experience of prayer. If God grant am, rejoice. But dis mystical prayer no suppose be di main experience wey person dey seek. Instead, di aim must be to continue to make your mind and will agree with di mind and will of God afterwards. When God see say experience of di prayer of union go help you agree with Him like dis, He go grant am. When your earthly memories and your ability to reason no fit reach di depth of union wey God want again, He go pause those powers for some time and speak directly to your spirit. Na to make your union with Him deeper, forgive your sins, and heal your wounded human nature.

As you dey reflect on dis holy gift of di prayer of union, allow am to make you humble. To understand dis gift dey bring humility because e dey help you realize say you no fit grow deeper for holiness without di touch of God wey dey transform your life. Na only God fit grant dis prayer when He will am and because He will am.

My Lord wey dey transform me, for Your great mercy, You want draw me into Your divine presence for di way wey na only You fit do. I open myself to You, dear Lord, and I dey pray for dis deep union wey You want give me. Abeg, speak to my spirit, cleanse my mind, set my imagination and memory free, and strengthen my will so that I go dey fully ready to enter union with You.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesin Forty-Five: At Least for di Entrance

Saint Teresa talk two things wey really dey draw attention as she begin to do her best to describe dis room dem.

I talk say ‘some,’ but for truth, di people wey no ever enter dis big house really few: some dey enter more and some less, but we fit talk say most of dem at least dey gain entrance into dis room dem (V.I #2).

First, Saint Teresa talk say di people wey no ever enter even di door of dis room dem “really few.” Dat na good news, and e suppose encourage everybody wey want enter dem. Of course, na to nuns wey dey live for enclosure she dey write. So, we suppose understand say wetin she mean be say, among her fellow sisters, di ones wey no ever enter dis state of prayer at some point for their life really few. She no dey talk say most people generally go gain entrance here. Instead, she dey refer to people wey take their spiritual life very seriously, follow one rule of life, pray every day, avoid sin, take part for di Sacraments, and dey keep company with people wey dey help dem for their journey of faith. For another way to talk am, if you don practise di lessons of di first four sets of room dem well, then you suppose get plenty hope say God go invite you enter di fifth set of room dem.

Another thing wey Saint Teresa talk about dis room dem wey really dey draw attention be say, some people dey enter dem “more” and others “less.” So, e be like say to enter di prayer of union wey person dey practise for dis room dem no be just matter of whether person don enter or e never enter, as person fit think. Instead, e be like say person dey enter deeper, level by level. Person fit only step inside here and then go back, and e fit be only once or twice e do like dat for im whole life. Other people fit dey enter here often and stay for longer time, dey journey deeper inside dis room dem, and even pass dem.

Think Deep: You dey among the many people wey God don allow to enter these places to stay? Maybe na question wey hard to answer. If you no sure, no worry. Get hope and confidence say na this kind deep prayer God want for you. Continue to seek God without giving up, and look forward to His loving invitation when He choose to give am.

Make you remember say God dey invite many people to enter these places to stay. Some dey enter more often, while others no dey enter as often. Look inside your heart, and try to grow the desire to at least enter the doorway of these places. Grow the desire inside your heart to meet our Lord here. Pray for the grace to receive His invitation, and look forward to our Lord opening the door for you, because na only Him fit open the door, and He really want to do am. When He open am, think deep about how you go respond. If you choose to enter, e go cost you something. You go need to continue to surrender your own will so that e go come dey in line with His own. You ready to accept this cost? You ready to let go of the past and enter fully into everything wey God don prepare for you? No fear and no hesitate. Pray for the grace to enter here with courage, and tell God “Yes” when He invite you.

My Lord wey get patience, You want to open the door and welcome me into these places to stay wey full of glory. You want to take control of my life and my prayer, and change me more deeply into Your divine presence, wey dey dwell for the centre of my soul. Abeg, give me courage and trust so that I go agree with all my heart to the invitation wey You dey always give me, without holding anything back from You, but following Your gentle and clear voice when You speak.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesin Forty-Six: Death Wey Sweet

You don ever wonder how e go be to die? If na so, then e look like say to experience this state of the prayer of union go help make the answer clear.

Na sweet death be this, because the soul no fit use the powers wey e dey use while e dey inside the body: e sweet because, (even though no be wetin really happen), e look like say e don leave the covering wey fit die, so that e go dwell more fully in God. This dey happen so completely that I no know whether enough life still remain for the body to continue to breathe; when I think about am, I believe say e no remain; anyway, if the body still dey breathe, e dey do am without knowing (V.I #3).

When you die, your body go stop to breathe, and your spirit go separate from am. E also look like say na wetin dey happen for this prayer. Saint Teresa admit say she no know whether the body really dey stop to breathe during this prayer, but e look like say she believe say e dey happen. Even though e fit no be death as we normally understand am, some things dey alike.

We fit call the body the “covering wey fit die” for the spirit. But as long as our body remain for its fallen state, e no fit unite completely with God. For the end of time, when God raise the bodies of all the faithful from death, those bodies go change and go fit share in divine union. But as long as our bodies remain for their fallen state, dem no fit share fully in divine union. So, for the human spirit to dwell fully in God, God dey separate am from the body for a short time in a mystical way. He dey quiet the senses, strong desires, emotions, human reasoning, imagination and memory, and draw only the spirit into divine union with the Spirit of God.

So, the earthly “death” wey person dey experience na “sweet death.” Na the greatest joy to meet God without using the earthly body and the powers of the soul. Saint Paul give us one of the best explanations from Scripture about this mystical prayer:

“I know somebody in Christ wey, fourteen years ago (whether na inside the body or outside the body, I no know, God know), God carry go up to the third heaven. And I know say this person (whether na inside the body or outside the body, I no know, God know) God carry go up into Paradise, and the person hear things wey words no fit express, wey nobody get permission to talk” (2 Corinthians 12:2–4).

Think Deep: You dey fear death? Death dey bring many things wey we no know. But for those wey dey live in Christ, death na our way to enter joy wey no go ever end. Even though God fit give you many more years here for earth, as you dey live with your fallen human nature, know say He also want to free you from this world through the “sweet death” of the prayer of union.

Think deep about whether you dey fear death. If na so, work to remove that fear. Truly, to leave the people wey we love for earth dey bring real human sorrow. But when we dey live in Christ and He dey live in us, we no suppose ever fear death itself.

Prayer of union na one of di many ways wey God dey use prepare you to unite with Am forever for Heaven. Think deeply about this kind death to self for this world, and pray for this gift so that you go understand more fully di glorious call wey you don receive to become one with di Most Holy Trinity forever.

My Lord wey dey invite me, You don call me to die completely to myself. You dey invite me to surrender everything to You and hold on to nothing except You and Your perfect will. Abeg, grant me this sweet kind of death for this world so that I go know You more fully, make You transform me, and make I live for You alone, dey serve You and Your holy will until di day wey I go die and meet You face to face.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesin Forty-Seven: Di Work of Angels and demons

When soul enter di fifth set of places wey soul dey dwell, e don so unite with God that di devil no fit affect am at all.

No matter how active these small lizards dey, dem no fit enter di fifth mansion, because neither di imagination, di understanding, nor di memory get power to block di graces wey God don give di soul. 

Again, Saint Teresa dey refer to di imagination, understanding (human reason or intellect), and memory. Since di devil and im legion of demons na fallen angels, dem still get their natural abilities to communicate with us through di spiritual power to suggest thoughts. This na one of di main purposes wey God create dem for. Dem suppose be instruments of God’s truths and His grace.  Even as dem don fall, dem still get di ability to communicate with us. But now, dem dey use all their natural powers to communicate lies to us as temptations, dey bring back certain harmful memories, and dey try lead us into reasoning wey no correct.

For these places wey soul dey dwell, since di imagination, understanding, and memory dey completely taken up with God, di demons no get any way to plant their lies and confuse our thinking. But di good angels, wey dey act as God’s instruments, fit communicate to us wetin God command dem to communicate.

To understand this better, e good to know say angels, whether dem good or bad, no get di natural ability to read our thoughts. So, when di demons see say we dey for di state of prayer of union, God’s powerful presence dey blind dem, and dem no know wetin we dey think or do, and dem no fit come near us with their lies. Dem no get any power again. But di good angels, since dem dey act as God’s instruments, fit communicate exactly wetin we need, because God dey read our thoughts perfectly. Even though di good angels no fit read our thoughts with their natural powers, dem dey depend on God to direct dem on how to guide us. So, God dey invite dem to share for di most secret ways wey He dey communicate His love and grace.

Among di many things wey these good angels dey communicate to us na spiritual consolations wey “dey above all di joys, pleasure, and satisfaction of this world.” These spiritual consolations fit even dey with us when we dey suffer or sorrow, just as when Jesus cry because Lazarus die. Di peace and joy wey we receive na di spiritual effects of di union wey di soul dey enjoy with God, even for inside suffering, like Jesus’ death on di Cross.

Reflection: You dey ever struggle with thoughts wey no gree leave your mind, imagination wey you no fit control, worries, or anxieties wey dey lead you into spiritual emptiness? This kind experience different from depression. This emptiness na spiritual effect wey dey come when we allow di evil one to speak im lies so e go lead us to lose hope for our spiritual life. If you dey struggle with this sometimes, pray for di gift of prayer of union so that di powers of your soul go dey safe from di attacks of di evil one.

You dey desire true freedom? You want make your thoughts dey free from temptation and confusion? Surely, you want am. So, think deeply about how important e be to enter this fifth set of places wey soul dey dwell. For these rooms, you go find one new kind of freedom wey you never know say e dey. Imagine one place where everything wey you know, think deeply about, and believe na wetin God dey communicate to you. Imagine say God don transform your mind completely. Imagine say you receive di gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and counsel to di fullest extent wey possible. Na this dey wait for you for these glorious places wey soul dey dwell.

My Lord wey dey set me free, You dey see my weaknesses, struggles, confusion, worries, and anxieties. You know di many ways wey di evil one dey tempt me, trick me, and confuse me. Abeg, blind am, dear Lord, and free me from im evil words so that I go dey free from am and im many lies. Instead, fill me with Your pure light and truth so that I fit experience di freedom wey You want give me.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesin Forty-Eight: Dem Carry Person Go di Underground Room Wey Dem Dey Keep Wine

Saint Teresa use picture of room wey dem dey keep wine, and she talk say this room, wey dey the centre of our soul, na where God dey put us during prayer of union with Him. For there, na through His power He dey show us Himself, no be through any effort from our side.

Concerning wetin I talk: ‘We no fit do anything by our own effort,’ the words of the Bride for Canticles touch me well, and una go remember say una don hear them: ‘The King bring me enter the room wey dem dey keep wine,’ (or ‘put me,’ I think na wetin she talk): she no talk say she go there by herself, even though she tell us how she waka up and down dey look for her Beloved (V.I #10).

E fit help us here to look at one teaching of Saint John of the Cross (See Spiritual Canticle, stanza 11.3). Saint John teach say God dey present inside the soul in three ways. The first way na by His essence. This mean say God dey present inside everything wey He create as the source of their very existence. If God comot from the essence of anything wey He create, that thing go stop to exist. So, God dey present by “essence” even inside souls wey dey in a state of mortal sin.

The second way na say God dey present inside a soul through sanctifying grace. Normally, person dey receive this grace through baptism, and e dey remain inside the person as long as the person avoid mortal sin. Na this grace go bring person to eternal salvation. Supernatural signs wey show God’s presence no dey always follow sanctifying grace, but na this state of grace dey bring us to Heaven.

These first two ways wey God dey present inside a soul come from scholastic scholars like Saint Thomas Aquinas. But Saint John of the Cross bring up a third way wey God dey present inside a soul, and Saint Teresa too use this way. For this third way, God dey present as He dey show Himself to a soul through spiritual consolation. So, for the passage above, Saint Teresa talk about how the King bring her enter the room wey dem dey keep wine. For this prayer of union, God dey show Himself to the soul by bringing am enter that inner dwelling place and showing am His divine presence. No be say God no dey there before; na the person never dey there with God before.

Saint Teresa still point to how our Lord wey rise from the dead appear to the disciples where the doors dey closed, without passing through the door. Remember too say when Jesus rise from the dead, He pass through the stone wey cover the tomb. Na so too, no be by passing through the door of meditation or by our own effort we dey encounter God; instead, for this prayer of union, God dey carry us in a mystical way enter His presence for the centre of our soul. Na God dey do this work; we no dey do anything apart from agreeing to wetin He dey do.

Reflection: Think deeply about the scene for the Gospel after the Resurrection, when Jesus suddenly appear to the disciples for the upstairs room where the doors dey closed. How He take reach there? Somehow, Jesus become present to them in a mystical way.

As you dey think deeply about this mystical way wey our Lord appear to the disciples, know say e resemble wetin God want do inside you. Since He don already dey live inside you by His essence and by sanctifying grace, He want hold your spirit and carry you in a mystical way enter the inner room of your soul where He dey live. This “room wey dem dey keep wine” inside you na where He dey wait for you. Nothing dey wey you fit do to enter, apart from allowing Him to carry you go there when He decide.

You don ever get any experience wey e be like say God do this kind thing to you? You don ever dey pray, then suddenly you come know more fully say God dey live inside you? God don ever “put you” for His presence in a new and deep way? Open your heart to this gift. Wait for the Lord, and if He give you this kind prayer, agree to am and rest close to Him for the centre of your soul.

My Lord wey dey present always, You dey live inside me, dey keep me in existence and dey make my soul holy with Your grace wey dey save. Abeg, still draw me enter this inner room of my soul by showing me Your presence, so that I go fit love You more, adore You, and rest close to Your divine presence.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Forty-Nine: Di Worm Wey Dey Make Silk

Saint Teresa really want make her sisters understand two things. First, the prayer of union pass wetin we fit get through our own effort. Na only gift from God, and if He give am, we must receive am. Second, she accept say even though we no fit get this grace through our own effort, plenty things dey wey we fit do to prepare ourselves to receive am. To explain am, she compare this state of prayer with ikpuru wey dey produce silk. This ikpuru start as egg wey no get life, for leaf of mulberry bush. E come get life once the leaves of the mulberry bush begin get life for warm weather. Once e hatch, this tiny katapila must begin work.

The katapila dey feed on the mulberry leaves until e grow big. Then people go put small twigs near am, and on top these twigs, e go use e own mind begin spin silk from e tiny mouth until e don make one small, tight akpa silk wey e go bury itself inside. Then this big, ugly ikpuru go come out of the akpa silk as one fine, small, white butterfly (V.II #1).

The first thing wey the katapila dey do na to feed on the leaves. For this comparison, Saint Teresa talk say the Christian must also feed im soul once the soul get life through grace wey dey make am holy. The Christian dey do this by using the ordinary ways wey the Church provide spiritual food, including “regular confession, books about faith, and sermons.” Na these actions dey especially for the first three dwelling places, and through them, the person dey deliberately grow for holiness. Daily prayer and meditation go also join this first feeding of the soul.

Once a soul don grow strong through these ordinary helps, e must begin build one akpa silk wey e go die inside. This “Akpa Silk” na Christ. She remember the Scripture passage, “Because una don die, and una life dey hidden with Christ inside God” (Colossians 3:3). The soul dey build this akpa silk wey e go die inside by making itself like Christ: e go give up self-love and self-will, no set e heart on anything for this world, do penance, pray, practise mortification, obey God’s will, and do works of charity. Once the person dey work hard for these ways, Saint Teresa give this advice:

Die! Die as the ikpuru wey dey produce silk dey die when e don finish the work wey God create am to do, and you go see God and enter deep inside His greatness, just as the small ikpuru dey fully covered inside e akpa silk (V.II #5).

Once a soul die in Christ, something miraculous dey happen. Through one act wey pass e own power, the soul go change into a new creation, just as ugly katapila dey change into fine butterfly. The fine white butterfly no know how e take change, but e know say e don change, and e no go ever want return to how e be before.

But once the soul don change, e fit also feel somehow confused. “Truly, the spirit no recognize itself, because e don different from wetin e be before, just as white butterfly different from the katapila wey person no go like look.” So, even though the soul dey experience God’s presence wey pass wetin e fit contain, e power to understand never fit make sense of wetin dey happen. E know say God don touch am, but because this encounter new, some mystery still dey inside am. At this point, good spiritual director go really help the soul understand wetin don happen and wetin go come next as e continue to move forward.

Reflection: You understand say the only way for you to change completely in Christ na to die in Christ? Think deeply about the kind death wey this fit mean for you. Wetin you must do to prepare the “tomb” wey you go die inside in Christ? You dey prepare this tomb, this akpa silk, by working hard for daily prayer, holy living, growth in virtue, acts of charity, mortification, and giving up every kind of selfishness. When you don do this, and when our Lord choose, He go bring about powerful change inside you. God don begin this change for your life?

When God change you into His new creation, you go notice say you don different. You don sense this change for your life? If no, work hard, use all the ordinary means wey God don give you, as dem explain above, and do am with all seriousness. Look for ways wey you fit die to your own self more completely. No turn away from this goal.

If you don see God work for your life in a way wey truly change you, rejoice for am! At first, this kind change go look new to you. You fit notice new strength wey you never get before. You go see virtue dey grow. Your desire for God for your life go grow deeper, and na only His holy will go be your concern. Know say this new life wey God give you, this life wey don change, na only the beginning. Learn to live as this new creation, and God go teach you how to fly.

My Lord wey dey transform me, You don give me everything wey I need to grow for holiness. I commit myself to life of daily prayer, fasting, growth for virtue, and study of the lives of the saints. As I dey use these ordinary ways of salvation to draw closer to You, I pray make You still help me to die completely to myself inside this holy “cocoon” wey You dey help me build. As I dey die, I trust say You go transform me and make me become new and beautiful creation in You.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Fifty: Time to Fly

After the soul receive the prayer wey dey unite am with God and come out from that state of prayer, with God don transform am just as caterpillar dey turn to butterfly, the soul no go ever want return to the former dwelling places where na only to crawl e fit crawl.

E no longer value the work wey e do when e still be caterpillar—the slow work of weaving im cocoon, one thread after another—im wings don grow and e fit fly; e fit still dey satisfied to crawl? (V.II #7)

The experience wey dey transform person through the prayer wey dey unite the soul with God no be something wey the person fit see as e dey happen, because im power to understand dey at rest. But once this transformation first happen through this prayer of union with God, the person fit see and understand the effects wey this transforming prayer don get for im soul. The Beatitudes especially show these effects. The soul begin “fly,” so to talk, dey rise to great heights as e dey seek God and desire to cooperate with God’s grace for every way for the good of other people.

First, holy sorrow for im past sins dey fill the soul. This holy sorrow dey push am to make amends for im past sins and help am work towards reconciliation with people wey e don hurt. Second, as the soul dey imitate our Lord, e dey desire great trials so that, out of love, e fit suffer in our Lord and together with Am, and turn im trials to sacrificial offerings. Third, the desire to praise God always and for everything dey continue. Fourth, the soul dey regularly seek time to dey alone so that e fit communicate more and more deeply with God. Fifth, the soul dey get strong zeal for other souls and desire to cooperate with God’s grace so that e fit win many other people over to the Kingdom. Lastly, everything wey dey offend God dey cause the soul sorrow, and e dey share for the agony of Christ for the Garden, as He suffer greatly because He know how many people go refuse His gift of salvation.

Reflection: As God dey transform you more fully into new and glorious creation, you go see the effects for your life. You dey see them? Ponder these holy effects wey be like this new butterfly wey dey fly for the first time.

You dey notice inside yourself say you don get new awareness of your sin, wey God’s mercy don now swallow up? You get holy desire to make amends for every sin wey you don ever commit?

You dey see the trials for your life as something wey you suppose avoid and wey suppose make you lose heart? Or you dey see them as opportunity to imitate the suffering of our Lord? You dey notice say you now desire to accept every trial and suffering out of love for God?

God deserve all our praise. You dey find holy desire inside yourself to praise God always and for everything? You dey praise Am for your difficulties? You dey see the wonderful things wey He dey do for you, and you dey desire to praise Am for those countless gifts of grace?

You dey notice say you dey feel more drawn to times when you fit dey alone, times when you fit dey alone with God and adore Am with love? You dey desire to rest peacefully for His divine presence?

You dey desire to build up the Kingdom of God by becoming instrument wey God go use bring His saving grace into other people’s lives? You get zeal for souls, and you dey feel strong need to cooperate with God’s grace to help them come know Am?

As you dey see the many sins for this world, e dey fill you with holy sorrow and agony deep inside you? You dey understand more fully the agony wey Jesus pass through for the garden, as He know clearly all the people wey go reject His gift of salvation?

As you dey reflect on these holy gifts wey God dey give those wey He don transform and wey begin “fly” by His grace, seek to nurture these gifts inside you. Rejoice when you see these new qualities begin show for your life, and work to accept these holy gifts with all your heart.

God wey high pass all, You dey call me make I reach the height of holiness, and You dey invite me make I share for the glory of Heaven. Abeg, give me the spiritual wings wey I need to share for Your life while I still dey this earth. Fill me with plenty holy virtues, holy sorrow for my sin, strength to accept every suffering, heart wey dey dedicated to Your praise and glory, strong desire to dey Your presence, zeal for the salvation of souls, and a share for the spiritual agony wey dey inside Your Sacred Heart.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Fifty-One: Deep Pain of Love

Some people fit think say once God don use His supernatural work change a soul through the prayer wey dey unite the soul with God, na only peace and joy the soul go experience. Na true say God’s peace and joy, wey nobody fit deny, dey present in a new and deep way. But the soul go also begin face plenty new trials wey even deep pass the ones wey e don ever face before.

Ah, see the new trials wey dey begin trouble the mind! Who go expect this kind thing after grace wey high reach like this? The truth be say, one way or another, we must carry the cross all our life (V.I #8)

No let this thing wey you hear trouble you. Saint Teresa continue talk say, “even though their sorrows dey very severe, the sorrows dey help them so much, and dem come from a source wey good so much that dem dey bring both peace and happiness.” Wetin be these severe sorrows and new trials wey a soul dey experience because of the prayer wey dey unite the soul with God? The main thing be say na agony of love wey get two sides.

First, after the person don taste the pure love of God through this secret encounter for the hidden centre of the soul, the person go dey long for Heaven and remain for great agony because e know say e never reach there. The only thing wey dey console the person na say e know say God want make e remain for earth to continue His good work. The person dey long to dey with God and to enter deeper into the inner dwelling places of im soul. But since God never give the higher graces of the sixth and seventh dwelling places, the person dey suffer great agony as e dey long for that deeper grace. But this painful longing still dey come with deep virtue, strength, peace, submission, and joy.

Second, the suffering inside wey a person dey begin experience after e receive the prayer wey dey unite the soul with God fit resemble the suffering inside wey our Lord feel during the Agony for the Garden and as He hang for the Cross. Some people fit wrongly conclude say Jesus suffer inside for those times because the bodily suffering wey He dey face and endure dey trouble Him. No be so. No be His own sufferings He dey look. Na how people dey reject the grace wey He dey win for souls He dey look. Wetin cause His agony na say He know about those wey go reject His gift of salvation and lose Heaven forever. Na so too, when you experience the prayer wey dey unite the soul with God, you go begin feel the pain inside Christ, wey dey love everybody with love wey take over His whole being, even as people dey reject that love.

One thing wey this dey teach us be say, if you love much, you go suffer much until the giving and receiving of that love don complete. But the suffering wey come from love different without any limit from the complete death of a soul wey no get any love at all. Na the suffering from love for our Lord’s human soul we dey begin experience. He long to dey with His Father for Heaven again, and He long to carry every person for earth along with Him.

Make we reflect: You dey ever notice say you dey long to dey with God for Heaven? If na so, this one good, and na sign say God don show Himself to you for the centre of your soul through the prayer wey dey unite the soul with God. If you get this longing for God, then enjoy am well and allow am bring peace and joy.

Death dey make you fear? For one side, we suppose get deep desire to dey with God, because na there be our true home. For the other side, if you dey long to dey with God, but you still know say God get more work wey He want make you do for Him for Earth, then that one good. Allow yourself to experience the agony wey Jesus feel as He dey live His human life, as He dey long to return to His Father and still dey desire to fulfil the Father’s will for Earth.

Still think deeply whether you dey share for Christ’s agony inside over souls. When you see people wey dey go astray and turn away from God’s mercy wey no get limit, e dey pain your heart? I hope say e dey pain you. The truth be say, the closer you dey come to our Lord, the more deeply you go feel His agony over souls wey dey go astray. Allow that holy agony move you to love other people and to pray more for them.

My Lord wey de suffer deep pain, when You waka for dis earth, You feel great pain deep inside You as You long to return to di full presence of Your Father for Heaven and desire to carry every human soul follow You. Your love for Your Father and for everybody wey E create fill You with deep pain of love. Abeg, light dis same deep pain of love inside me, as You set my heart on fire to share for di desires of Your Heart.

Most Holy Trinity wey de dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Fifty-Two: God Im Ring Wey Carry Im Seal

When person receive di prayer wey soul de unite with God, e be like say God de press His seal on di soul, and di soul no be anything apart from wax wey dem fit shape.

I believe say na only people wey E take completely as His own E de give dis grace. E want make di spirit come out with His seal on am, without di spirit knowing how e happen, because true-true, di spirit no de do anything pass wetin wax de do when dem press seal on am (V.II #11).                                              

Saint Teresa use dis new picture to explain more about both wetin God de do during di prayer wey soul de unite with God, and wetin we ourselves de do. Ring wey get seal na common way wey person de use put im signature on something, to mark am as im own. When person write letter, dem go use wax seal am shut. Before di wax dry finish, di person wey write di letter go press ring on di wax, and di ring go leave im special mark. Na so God de do to our soul. E de press His will on di person own will and make di person own will become His own. Di person wey de receive dis mark only need to be like soft wax wey de receive and show di will of God.

Dis comparison still teach us say na through dis prayer our will de come agree with di will of God. We no de follow our own will again. Instead, God own will de become our will, and na only to fulfil dat divine will for everything we de choose.

When one soul own will don come agree with God own will, nothing dey wey di person no go do for God. Nothing! Dem de joyfully accept di hardest penances if na wetin God want as sacrifice for di good of other people. Dem de do everything wey dey necessary, even to lay down their lives without hesitation, so dat souls go receive salvation. Di only things wey dem de desire for life na di glory of God and di salvation of souls. Dem de work to achieve these things with strength wey pass ordinary human strength, because dem know say na God de do di work inside dem and through dem. Dem no belong to themselves again; dem belong to God, hidden inside Christ.

Reflection: When you look at your own will, wetin you de see? You de see any selfish desires wey full with wetin you yourself prefer? Or na di will of God you de see?

As person de journey through dis fifth group of places wey soul de dwell, e must allow God to stamp im will with God own will, and allow God to take ownership of im will. Dis don happen for your life? God divine will don cover and transform your will into His own?

We no fit make our will agree completely with God own will by ourselves. Na only God fit do dis completely. Our own part na to receive di mark of God own will on our will, and give God ownership of our will. You ready to allow God do dis to you? You ready to let everything inside you wey dey selfish or de seek only your own interest in any way die, so dat na only God own will go remain? Dis agreement of our will with God own will na di beginning of union with God.

My Lord wey de ask everything of me, You desire everything from me. You want take full ownership of my will so dat no be me go de live again, but na You go de live inside me. Abeg, press Your perfect Will on my own will, and take possession of my whole life. I give You everything, dear Lord. Take me to Yourself, and transform my will into Your own.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Fifty-Three: To Go Back to Sin

Once soul receive di prayer wey soul de unite with God, one of two things fit likely happen. Either e go continue di journey or e go return to life of sin.

MAKE we now return to our small dove and see di graces wey God de give am for dis state. Dis mean say di soul de try to go forward for di service of our Lord and for knowledge of itself. If e receive di grace of union and then no do anything more, because e think say e don dey safe, and so e begin live carelessly, waka comot from di road to heaven (wey mean to keep di commandments), di same thing wey happen to di butterfly wey come from silkworm go happen to am: e go lay some eggs wey go produce more of im kind, then e go die forever (V.I #1).

Saint Teresa teach something wey really catch attention here. She explain say some souls de receive di prayer wey soul de unite with God, and then fall back into life of sin, de break di Commandments in serious way. But di part of dis teaching wey catch attention na say, even if dis happen, God still often de use dat person to “lay some eggs” before di soul go lost forever for eternal damnation.

The first thing wey this one de tell us na say the battle no de end until we die. Until that time, no matter how much God don give person, e still possible for the person to fall. She explain say people wey receive the prayer wey de unite soul with God and later fall from grace often do so because, once dem receive this gift, dem no do anything more. Dem think say dem dey safe because of the encounter with God wey change dem. Dem become too satisfied with where dem dey, begin live without care, and stray comot from the road, come fall into serious sin.

But because this prayer wey unite dem with God before na such great gift, even if the person stray, God go often still use am for some ways, to “lay some eggs.” This one mean say dem de act as instruments of God mercy for other people wey receive the gift of salvation and prayer through their efforts, even though dem don turn away from God.

If person receive the prayer wey de unite soul with God, this lesson teach say the person must continue to move forward so that e no go lose everything wey e don receive. If person no de move forward for this stage, e often mean say the person don begin slowly draw away from God and wetin God want. As this one de happen, the person go continue to fall until e lose everything.

Reflection: If you don experience powerful graces from God for your life, make you rejoice because of that. But no become too satisfied with where you dey. No just de enjoy the memory of those graces wey you receive before, de assume say you no go ever fall again. Saint Teresa don stress how important e be to persevere for the earlier dwelling places, and she de stress am again here.

You de struggle with becoming too satisfied with where you dey after you don receive plenty grace from God? Your daily prayer life don begin fade? Your zeal for other souls don begin cool down? You don begin turn your eyes from the glories of Heaven to the things of this world wey de entice person? If na so, use this lesson as serious reminder say, as long as you still de live for this earth, e always possible to fall from grace.

Think well about these questions with honesty and humility, and know say if you no de move forward for your journey of faith, then you de go backward. Press forward. Try to go deeper. Pray with more fervour. Offer sacrifices every day. No just dey satisfied to remain for the fifth dwelling places. Instead, seek to move further inside the castle of your soul, so that you go continue to enjoy the divine presence of the One wey de dwell deep inside.

My Lord wey de call me, You no de ever stop to invite me to go deeper, closer to the mansion for the centre of my soul, where You de dwell in all Your fullness. Abeg, give me the gift of perseverance wey pass natural human power, so that I no go ever tire to serve You, and I no go ever become too satisfied with where I dey for my journey. Continue to keep me safe from every sin, and make my desire for more of You and for Your perfect will to happen burn like fire.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Fifty-Four: Di “Short Cut” No Dey Necessary

Up to this point, Saint Teresa don talk clearly about the great spiritual comfort wey soul de experience as e enter the fifth dwelling places and experience the prayer wey de unite am with God. But now, she de make us understand the fifth dwelling places better. She explain say person no need to receive the “short cut” of experiencing spiritual comfort before e fit reach the divine union of the fifth dwelling places.

For person to reach this kind divine union, e necessary make the powers of the soul stop to work for some time? No; God get many ways to enrich the soul and bring am to these mansions, apart from wetin person fit call a ‘short cut’ (V.III #5).

Remember say part of the experience of the prayer wey de unite soul with God na say imagination, memory and reason all stop to work for some time, as only the spirit enter the central dwelling place with God. The peace and joy wey follow so great that the soul no fit doubt even for one moment say e don encounter God. But here, for wetin fit look like say she de change wetin she talk before, Saint Teresa explain say another way dey to enter the fifth dwelling places without imagination, memory and reason completely stopping their work like this.

The other way to enter these places wey soul dey stay na to depend on God grace, give up wetin we ourselves want completely, and follow wetin God want for everything. She talk say, to do this, we still must die to ourselves, just as caterpillar must die before e become butterfly. But for the ways wey she don describe before, through the spiritual graces of the prayer of union, this death happen as the soul enter the new and glorious life of union with God in a way wey show clearly. For this second way, the soul no receive this gift wey dey console am. Instead, e must give itself a “blow wey dey bring death” by dying to itself completely and choosing only wetin God want. She continue, “I agree say the work go hard well well, but e go get greater value, so your reward go greater if you come out victorious…” Na this way Saint Teresa desire. “Na this union I don long for all my life, and I dey beg our Lord to grant me; na the one wey sure pass and safe pass. But e pain me say, na so few of us ever get am!”

This teaching suppose console people wey dey long to fulfil wetin God want for their lives, but wey never get mystical experience of the prayer of union. If you don use all the powers of your soul to serve God and fulfil wetin He want, but you never get the mystical experiences for prayer wey dem describe before, then see this as invitation from God to give yourself this blow wey dey bring death, wey “sure pass and safe pass.” With all the powers of your soul, choose never to offend God and to make wetin you want agree with wetin He want. Then trust say His grace go give you the power to do so, even without supernatural and mystical experiences for prayer. But take care! Na few people ever reach this point, so you no must hesitate to die to yourself completely for everything, every day, until your life for this earth end. The greatest obstacles wey person dey face for this path na “love of self, high regard for self, judging others too quickly even for small matters, and lack of charity because we no love our neighbour as much as we love ourselves.” If you fit overcome these spiritual imperfections, then you don give yourself that blow wey dey bring death, as wetin you want come agree with wetin God want.

Reflection: Wetin important pass? Na to experience God presence wey dey console person, or to agree completely with wetin God want? Certainly, na the second one. Perfection mean say wetin we want agree completely with wetin God want. This na to die to ourselves completely.

If you never experience mystical consolation for prayer, then see am as invitation to reach union with God through another way. For which ways you fit willingly accept to die completely to wetin you want, wetin you prefer, and wetin go benefit you yourself? Wetin else God want from you? Know say this giving up of self na something wey union with God must get. Always seek this union, even if you no sense God mystical work for your prayer life.

My Lord wey dey console me, I choose You and Your perfect will for my life, whether I feel Your presence or not, and whether I receive the gift of the prayer of union wey dey console and transform person or not. Abeg, free me from the desire to get every mystical grace for prayer. Instead, give me the strength wey I need to die to myself completely, so that wetin I want go agree fully with wetin You want.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Fifty-Five: To Dey Focus Too Much on Your Own Spiritual Life

If you notice say you dey worry too much about whether you don experience the prayer of union or not, this lesson na for you.

When I see people wey dey worry well well to know the kind prayer wey dem dey practise, wey dey cover their faces and dey fear to move or think, so that dem no go lose any small tender feeling and devotion wey dem feel, I know say dem understand only small about how to reach union with God, since dem think say na things like these dey make up this union (V.III #11).

Even though Saint Teresa use much of the first two chapters for this section about the fifth places wey soul dey stay to describe the power of the prayer of union to transform person, she now point out one tendency wey some people wey dey pray regularly get. After dem learn about the different levels of prayer and the mystical experiences wey sometimes dey follow them, some people come dey pay more attention to their own experience, and even allow am take over their mind, instead of the fruit of this true union, wey suppose be the only thing dem focus on.

When soul receive di gift of prayer wey e dey united with God, and true spiritual comfort follow am, di soul suppose rejoice. E go get sure knowledge say God carry am enter di cellar wey dey deep inside di soul and show Himself there. Wetin fit bring joy pass this! But if you notice say, as you dey try pray and contemplate, na whether you dey get mystical experience or not dey concern you pass, then you no really dey pray at all. For that kind case, e fit don reach time to return to di lessons of di first three dwelling places and remain there until God work for your soul—if He choose to do so.

Another very important thing to do, if you notice say you dey worry too much about di level of prayer wey you fit dey experience or no dey experience, na to change wetin you dey focus on. Instead of worrying about your level of prayer, focus on di love for God and your fellow human beings wey dey come from surrendering yourself with all your heart to wetin God want. Since God fit choose to call us to make wetin we want agree completely with wetin He want, without giving us special mystical graces, we suppose always try choose this road wey sure pass. Na this road dey lead to true virtue wey dey show for love. Pray so that you fit love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. If you fit do this, then you dey di right road.

Reflection: Di lessons wey you don learn so far don make you dey focus too much on only wetin dey happen inside your own spiritual life? You don notice say you dey worry too much about wetin you dey experience or no dey experience for prayer? If na so, stop to dey think about your prayer and just pray. We no dey pray to experience di comfort wey God dey give; we dey pray to love God by making wetin we want agree with wetin He want.

Take some time to deliberately reject any thoughts about your experiences for prayer wey don dey control your mind. Instead, keep your eyes on love for God and other people. You love God? You love other people? These two questions go help make am clear whether you truly dey pray as God want.

E also important to humble yourself and admit whether you sometimes dey produce your own “mystical” experience for prayer or not. You dey do this? You want these experiences so much that sometimes you dey make yourself feel say you dey close to God? If na so, e fit good to change di way you dey pray. Return to meditation on di Gospels. Pray di rosary. Think deeply about some beautiful prayers. Affirm your faith in di teachings of di Creed. Surrender wetin you want to God. No worry about wetin you dey feel for prayer: just pray and love God with all your heart. He go take care of di rest. Pray even when prayer become dry, and work to love Him even more.

My sweet Lord, na one thing You want from me. You want make wetin I want agree completely with wetin You want. I pray make this also become di deepest desire of my heart. Lord, when my prayer be like say e dry and e no dey bear fruit, I thank You. When e full and e dey bring comfort, I thank You. When I see You show me Your presence, I thank You. When e be like say You hide Yourself, I thank You. I thank You for everything, and I pray make na only You I go seek. Abeg, free me from all experiences for prayer wey dey deceive me and wey I dey produce by myself, so that my prayer go make wetin I want agree completely with wetin You want.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Fifty-Six: Di Sign Wey Sure Pass

Saint Teresa repeat this next lesson more than once. So, she see am as very important lesson wey we need to learn and practise.

We no fit know whether we love God, even though we fit get strong reasons to think so, but we fit know without any doubt whether we love our neighbour or not (V.III #8).

You truly love God? According to Saint Teresa, we no fit know di answer to that question just by looking at di question alone. Na only by checking how we love our neighbour we fit know am. If we love our neighbour, then we fit dey sure say we love God too, because love for our neighbour dey flow from our love for God. Also, if we want love God more, then we suppose work to love our neighbour more.

How you dey love your neighbour? One way we fit do this with pure and holy love na to make wetin we want agree with wetin our neighbour want. Of course, if wetin our neighbour want dey lead towards sin, we must never follow am. But plenty other ways dey wey we fit do this for matters wey no get sin inside.

For example, make we say your husband or wife wan do one thing for weekend, but you wan do another thing. To choose wetin your husband or wife prefer straightaway na deep act of love. This na to die to yourself and to act without putting yourself first. Of course, as you do this, your fallen human nature go rebel. If you notice that rebellion inside you, make you rejoice, because you don discover something inside you wey must die. That desire to always do your own will must die. You must strike am di “blow wey go kill am” through something real wey you do.

No be by feeling spiritual sweetness person dey discover holiness. Even though that sweetness fit often follow prayer for di earlier mansions, e no ever be sign of how holy person be. But to no put yourself first, to make sacrifice, and to make your will agree with other people own na strong signs of virtue, because di person don deliberately choose to love God by loving our neighbour. Again, your fallen human nature go surely rebel against this. Stand against that rebellion and die to yourself.

Reflection: You love God? Di best way to answer that question na to check whether you love di people around you or not—no be love wey just depend on feelings and dey satisfy only yourself, but love wey no dey put yourself first and wey dey make sacrifice.

You ready to make your will agree with di will of di people around you? You ready to choose their own will instead of your own? If na so, then this na clear sign say no be only them you love, but you love God too.

Take time examine how you dey relate with other people, especially your family and close friends. If na wetin you want make dem do you dey regularly think about, instead of how you fit love dem more, then pay attention to this thing wey you don realise. Love no ever mean say we must get our way. E no mean to force somebody to do wetin we want. Di highest and purest kinds of love always dey focus on other people. We must die to ourselves completely and live for God by living for other people. This na holy love.

You dey notice say your fallen human nature dey rebel against this kind love wey no dey put yourself first? Unless e don become fully pure and agree with di will of God, e go rebel. If you rebel and catch yourself dey think, “What of me?” then you don discover something inside you wey must die. Work to strike this concern for only yourself di “blow wey go kill am,” so that you go plant your feet more firmly inside these fifth dwelling places.

My loving Lord, pure love require di highest level of putting yourself first and making sacrifice. E require make I die to myself completely for everything. Abeg, increase my love, and free me from every kind of love wey dey seek only my own good. Make my love pure and holy, make e imitate Your love and share in am. You give Your life freely, dear Lord. You accept every injustice. You no demand love from other people before You give love. Help me make my love agree with Your own.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Fifty-Seven: Courtship Dey Start

For di last chapter about di fifth dwelling places, Saint Teresa come back to shed more light on di prayer of union. Here, she use di picture of wetin plenty people understand as di final stage of courtship to prepare for betrothal. For this final and deep meeting, e be like say God dey ask di soul to marry Him, as He dey invite am to enter spiritual marriage.

We fit compare di prayer of union to a visit, because e dey last only very short time. No more question of whether to still weigh di matter, but in a secret way di soul dey see di kind Bridegroom wey e don enter betrothal with (V.IV #2).

For this stage of person relationship with God, di soul don commit itself to divine marriage. Di betrothal just happen. Di prayer of union be like one meeting with di Bridegroom wey deep and strong well well, so that di soul go know Him. She talk say this meeting with di One wey go be di soul spiritual Husband dey last only one brief moment, but for that moment, di soul receive more than wetin e fit receive through years of effort on e own. Di Beloved dey reveal Himself to di soul “in a secret way,” and this spiritual meeting dey set di soul heart on fire with love, as e dey fill am with eager expectation of di marriage wey dey come.

Saint Teresa explain further say, since this meeting na purely spiritual one, e pass by far any experience wey two people wey love each other fit get as dem dey prepare for marriage for this world. Di knowledge of God wey di soul gain for this secret meeting dey convince am say di decision wey e make to dedicate itself to di Beloved na di right decision, without any doubt. Because di soul don receive such great favours, and dem don give am such secret knowledge of di Beloved, if e turn away from God for this stage, di loss go cause terrible pain wey words no fit describe. Wetin e go lose go equal di spiritual favours and di love wey God just communicate to am.

Reflection: Try think deeply about how God dey communicate with soul “for secret way.” Wetin this one mean? Since na “secret,” person no fit know am unless e experience am. This one dey show how close and special the relationship wey our Lord dey invite each person to share with Am be. Think deeply about this secret meeting and communication wey the Most Holy Trinity want share with you.

Even though union with God pass any experience of human marriage by far, Saint Teresa dey use the images of engagement and marriage to help us understand wetin dey happen for these places wey soul dey stay. Human marriage na very big decision—e fit even be the biggest decision wey person go make for life. For the same way, the choice to enter engagement with God far greater and far more important pass any other decision wey we go ever make for life. You ready to make that commitment?

As you enter engagement relationship with the Trinity, you dey commit yourself to spend plenty time with God. You dey promise to know God more, to know each Person of the Trinity well-well, to learn how to live with Them, and to grow for your love for Them. You ready to do this? Anything dey make you hold back from this kind deep commitment?

For God side, nothing dey make Am hold back. God dey long to become one with you, and E dey long to invite you to enter the fullness of union with Am. As you know say the God of the whole universe don commit Himself to you like this, make this knowledge help calm any worry wey you get about your choice to give everything to this God wey be Trinity.

Most Holy Trinity, You don invite me to enter union with You wey deep so much and pass wetin I fit take in, so that e go change my life forever. You promise to give me Yourself as gift, and You offer Yourself to me without holding anything back. Who I be, wey the God of the whole universe go humble Himself to give me so much? I tell You “Yes,” my God, and I accept Your invitation to enter full communion with You.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.

Lesson Fifty-Eight:  Di devil Im Last Attack

Now wey the soul don know well-well Who e don enter engagement with, the devil dey launch one final, fierce attack to stop the spiritual union of marriage with God, because the devil know say na e last attempt be this.

…but the evil one dey come with e sharp cunning and, as e dey pretend say na good thing, e dey lead the soul astray for some small matter and make am commit small faults wey e go make the soul believe say no fit cause harm. So, small-small, the soul sense of reasoning come dey dark and e power to choose come dey weak, while the devil dey feed the self-love of the soul wey e don trap. At last, step by step, e go succeed to draw the soul away from union with God will and make am follow e own will (V.IV #6).

The devil know say, for this stage, e no get any chance to convince the soul to commit mortal sin. So, e dey fight fierce war against the soul through cunning, as e dey pretend say na good thing. The devil know say if this soul move further, e go do good wey nobody fit count for God, and the devil no go get power to stop am. This one dey frighten the devil reach inside, and e dey do everything wey e fit do to stop the spiritual marriage from happening and reaching full union.

The only last chance wey the devil get na to trick the soul to believe say one small evil act na good thing, and say the soul go gain if e choose that sin wey hide under the face of good. If the devil succeed, e go continue to lead the soul to make more decisions like that, dey lead am one small step at a time for the road wey lead to a fall. Once e succeed to weaken the soul power to choose and darken e power to understand, e go attack to end the engagement and make the soul fall from God grace.

Reflection: You love God so deeply that you no go ever deliberately do anything wey go against His will? People wey dey the fifth place wey soul dey stay love Am like that. Dem no dey avoid sin because dem fear punishment. Instead, dem dey avoid sin because their love for God deep so much that even to think about offending God dey pain dem. As you look inside your own soul, na this kind thing you dey experience?

If your love for God don reach this deep level, no relax your guard. Know say the devil dey greatly fear this kind love, and e go multiply e efforts to make you fall. Think deeply about how real the devil hatred be. No do am because of fear wey no good for you, since the devil no get power against God will. But do am to remind yourself say, since you never perfect, dem still fit deceive you. You fit understand this truth wey dey teach humility?

Take time think about any way wey the evil one don deceive you make you do evil as if say na good you dey do. To see these tricks, you need to really open your heart and humble yourself. You ready to check your actions and admit any small way wey you don believe im lies wey no easy to notice? Open your heart to this, and trust say God, wey love you with love wey dey burn strong and dey take over everything, go help you see these lies wey no easy to notice—if you allow Am.

Lord wey Your love dey perfect, Your love for me no go ever shake, but my love for You fit sometimes go astray. I truly love You, dear Lord; I love You with love wey deep well-well. I pray make I no ever offend You until the day wey I go die. Abeg, help me see any way wey the evil one dey use tricks wey no easy to notice deceive me, dey lead me to offend You as if say na good I dey do. Help me see all my actions as You dey see them, dear Lord, so that I go always turn back to You anytime wey I go astray.

Most Holy Trinity wey dey live inside me, I love You, na You I trust, I hand over my life to You.

List of Wetin Dey Inside