Ebe Obibi Nke Asaa
Marriage for Spirit
Lesson Sixty-Nine: Another Heaven
How Heaven go be? Plenty people dey assume say na only when, by God mercy, we enter the Beatific Vision after death and Purgatory, we fit answer this question. But e possible to know how Heaven be while we still dey earth? As Saint Teresa talk, when one soul enter the seventh dwelling place, e enter โsecond Heaven.โ
When our Lord choose to pity the sufferings, both the ones wey don pass and the ones wey still dey, wey this soul wey He don take as His bride for spirit don endure because of how e dey long for Him, He go bring am enter this His mansion or room of His presence before He complete the heavenly marriage. Na this be the seventh Mansion [Ebe Obibi], because just as He get dwelling place for heaven, na so He get one inside the soul, where nobody apart from Him fit dwell, and we fit call this place second heaven (VII.I #3).
Heaven na God dwelling place. Na there the fullness of His divinity dey, and souls wey don become completely pure dey behold the Beatific Vision. But the seventh dwelling place na just one room, deep inside each soul, where God dey dwell in His fullness. As the soul enter there, e enter second Heaven because God fullness dey dwell there. Even though e no be the same as the Beatific Vision wey person go enjoy forever after death, na second Heaven because the soul don unite with God as fully as e possible while e still dey here for earth.
Reflection: You don ever wish say you fit visit Heaven and discover how e go be? The truth be say you fit do so in one way. As you enter the seventh dwelling place, you dey enter the fullness of God presence as He dey dwell inside you.
E fit well be say you never enter this second Heaven inside your soul. E fit well be say you still dey on the journey. But to know say this kind place dey for this world suppose fill us, no be only with hope, but also with confidence say we fit reach this union with God. God want make everybody enter this dwelling place during this life. He desire make all of us enter there, live there, and remain there until He take us go the โfirstโ Heaven of the Beatific Vision.
How sure you dey say you fit enter this Heaven wey dey inside you? You dey doubt say you fit do am? E dey look like something wey you no fit reach? If na so you dey think, use all your strength reject those thoughts. Even though we no fit enter by our own effort, God want make we dey there, and He go welcome us when we fully answer His invitation, after our souls don become completely pure. Plenty prayer, steady acts of penance, works of love for God and neighbour, and growth in virtue go lead us reach the door. When we reach the door, we fit dey sure say our Lord go open am and welcome us inside.
Lord of Heaven and Earth, You dey dwell in Your fullness for the eternal realms of Heaven. You still dey dwell, in Your fullness, deep inside my own soul. Abeg, draw me deeper enter this dwelling place wey dey the centre of my soul, and open the door for me so that I fit enter this second Heaven inside me and dwell there until the day wey I go die.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Seventy: Di Room of Di Presence
For the dwelling places wey come before, the soul experience the prayer of union and ecstasy. During those moments of union, the power to understand and the imagination no fit see anything. Na only the spirit enter union with God. But for this dwelling place, dem bring the soul enter the โRoom of His Presence,โ and God beauty dey revealed to the soul while e still get full use of all im powers. Through vision wey come to the understanding, the spirit dey see God, wey be Three Persons in One, in all His glory and essence.
Through one mysterious way wey the truth take show itself, the three Persons of the most Blessed Trinity dey reveal Themselves. Before this revelation, one light dey shine on the spirit like cloud of light wey dey shine so bright. The three Persons dey distinct from one another; God dey pour one high knowledge enter the soul, and this knowledge dey fill am with certainty of the truth say the Three get one substance, power, and knowledge, and na one God. So, wetin we hold as doctrine of faith, the soul now understand by sight, as we fit talk am, even though e no dey behold the Blessed Trinity with the eyes of the body or of the soul, because this vision no be picture for the imagination. Here, all the Three Persons dey communicate Themselves to the soul, dey speak to am, and dey make am understand our Lord words for the Gospel say He and the Father and the Holy Spirit go come make Their home with the soul wey love Him and keep His commandments (VII.I #9).
This gift really high and holy! All through our life, we dey pray the Creed, profess our faith in God wey be Trinity, and believe in God through the many gifts of grace wey we receive for prayer. But until this moment of Marij for Spirit, na only our faith in God wey we never see we dey profess. But then, after God reveal His Presence as Trinity directly to the deepest part of the spirit, the spirit dey see God as He be. Even though na only after death we go see the full Beatific Vision, this vision na real vision of God as He be. This way wey God dey make Himself known, directly to the spirit and overflowing enter every power wey body and soul get, strong so much that e hard to believe say this person go ever turn away from God again.
For this state of Marij for Spirit, a soul fit continue to suffer well-well for body or even for the powers wey the soul get, but none of this suffering go worry am. E go desire every suffering and mortification wey possible because of im love for God and im desire to make im own human life conform to Christ own.
For this dwelling place, the prayer wey the Lord pray as High Priestโthat every soul go unite with the Holy Trinityโdey fulfilled. โNo be only for them I dey pray, but also for those wey go believe in Me through their word, so that all of them go be one, as You, Father, dey in Me and I dey in You, make them too dey in Us, so that the world go believe say na You send Meโ (John 17:21โ22).
Wetin to Think Deep About: You believe in the Most Holy Trinity? Surely, you believe. But the faith wey you dey profess na faith wey dem don pass give you for way wey dey hidden and no clear well. You know say God dey real, but you never fully know Him or understand Him.
For the gift of Marij for Spirit, the way you know the Most Holy Trinity dey change. Now, you dey profess faith in God wey you don see and encounter for the deepest part of your own soul. You desire this gift?
Person fit fully receive the gift of Marij for Spirit for this life. Pray for that gift. Think deep about am. Get hope say you go receive am. Work with all seriousness for every way wey you fit, to prepare yourself so that you go ready to receive am when God choose to give am.
God dey call you to become one with Him, to unite with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Take time think deep about this unity wey God dey call you to. Search your soul and discover the desire wey dey inside you for this union. Stir up that desire. Allow God to increase that desire, and dey ready and willing to agree to anything wey you need to do to reach this union.
My God wey be Trinity, I desire to see You, know You, and love You with all my mind, heart, soul, strength, and my whole being. I desire to become one with You and enter the dwelling place for the centre of my soul where You dey live. Abeg, draw me enter Your divine presence. Reveal Yourself to me, and transform me so that I fit be one with You.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Seventy-One: God Im Presence Still Dey
After the soul first encounter the Blessed Trinity for this dwelling place, e go forever remain aware say God dey present inside am. But sometimes, His presence dey show more clearly than other times.
No be every time this presence dey fully clear, that is, dey show as clearly as e first show, or as e dey show for the times when God renew this favour. If not, the person wey receive am no go fit attend to any other thing or live among people. Even though no be every time the soul dey see this presence with light wey clear like that, whenever e think about am, e dey feel say the Blessed Trinity dey with am (VII.I #12).
Since we dey live for this world and must live both the life of Martha and the life of Mary, God dey allow the soul sometimes to pay attention to His divine presence for way wey no dey show as clearly, so that e fit do im duties for life. If the Blessed Trinity dey always show Himself fully without stopping, the soul no go fit do any other thing except to contemplate the divine presence. But the more often God dey reveal Himself to the soul for this central room, the more the soul dey get used to God, and the more this revelation dey continue.
Saint Teresa compare the way the soul dey aware of God presence to person wey dey inside room with other people. If the lights for that room suddenly go off, the person go still know say the other people wey dey there still dey. Because the soul no fit see them again no mean say e go think say the others don disappear. Na so too, when the Trinity no dey fully reveal Himself to the soul through this vision wey come through understanding, the soul still know say God dey there, with am for anything wey e dey do.
Reflection: You know say God dey with you every time? You know say He dey with you even when you no feel His presence, or when you no too notice His presence? God dey present with us by His essence every time. If no be so, we for stop to exist. As long as we remain free from mortal sin, God still dey present with us through His grace wey dey save us. This grace dey help us reach Heaven, grow for virtue, and live the life of Christ. Sometimes, God still dey show Himself to us through prayer. Na this life of contemplation He call us to live. How often you dey feel God dey show His presence for this third way?
Remember the different teachings wey we don receive so far about how God dey slowly show Himself to us more fully for this third way. He dey come through the prayer of passive recollection, the prayer of union, the prayer of ecstasy, and finally through the prayer of Spiritual Marriage. Think back on your life, and consider the times when you feel say God dey show Himself to you for these different ways.
Even though every experience of prayer go different and get im own special character, take time thank God for those moments of clear consolation when you know say God dey with you. Still reflect on those moments when e seem say God no dey. Those moments too carry grace wey dey help you grow for humility, trust, and fortitude. Continue to hold firm for virtue, especially for those moments when e seem say God no dey, and you go see say your life dey bear plenty good fruit.
My Lord wey dey hidden, I believe say You dey with me every time and You no go ever leave me. I thank You for those times when e seem say You no dey and when I no feel Your presence dey show for my life. For those moments, give me courage and hope. Make those moments bring greater humility for my life as I come understand how I depend on You for everything.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Seventy-Two: Like Rain Wey Dey Fall Inside Stream
For the earlier dwelling places, the soul experience union with God. But the union for those dwelling places no be permanent one. E be like two candles wey dem put together so that their flames dey burn as one. Even though the flames join together, dem fit easily separate the candles make each one burn on im own. No be so with Spiritual Marriage. The union wey form no fit separate.
But spiritual marriage be like rain wey dey fall from heaven enter river or stream, and become one and the same water, so that nobody fit separate the river water from the rain water; or e be like small stream wey flow enter ocean, wey no fit separate from am again afterwards (VII.II #5).
Saint John of the Cross believe say once person enter this deep level of prayer wey Saint Teresa describe for the seventh dwelling place, the person no fit ever return to mortal sin. E seem say Saint Teresa agree, but she warn the soul make e remain watchful every time. Even so, this Spiritual Marriage get such deep effect on the soul that e seem say e no possible for the soul to ever turn away from God completely and return to mortal sin.
Reflection: You dey long for stability for your life? If na so, nothing dey more stable than to enter Spiritual Marriage. For this state of prayer, the soul don unite with God so much that e no go ever leave Him. Wetin a great gift! Pray for that gift.
Plenty people dey struggle with serious sin all through their lives. This struggle dey cause pain wey too much as dem experience the loss of grace wey dey make person holy for their life. God no ever want leave you like this, and He go only leave when mortal sin push Him comot.
Pray for the gift of Spiritual Marriage so that you no go ever experience this loss of God. Even though sometimes e fit seem say He no dey, for your own good, He no go ever leave you after He don unite Himself with you for Spiritual Marriage. This na permanent stateโe no fit break and e no get end. Reflect on the comfort and joy wey you go get when you receive this holy gift. Long for am, hope for am, and seek am with all the powers of your soul.
Lord of true unity, I dey long to unite with You so fully that we no go ever separate. I dey pray for the gift of Spiritual Marriage so that You and I go become one here for earth and forever for Heaven. I give myself to You, my God and Spouse, and I pray make You take me enter Your inner room of love and union.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Seventy-Three: To Forget Yourself
Remember say for the earlier mansions, the soul seek to overcome every concern about im own self, even the smallest one. For this central dwelling place, concern about im own self don comot completely.
So the soul no dey worry about anything [e no dey worry about anything], no matter wetin happen, but e dey live for such strange forgetfulness that, as I don talk, e seem say e no exist again, and e no even want make dem regard am as anything for any matterโany matter at all! unless e see say e fit increase the honour and glory of God, even if na small, and for this e go most willingly die (VII.III #2).
This first effect of Spiritual Marij be say โthe soul don forget herself so completely that e really be like say she no dey exist.โ The soul no dey recognise herself again because the change deep well-well. For the mansions wey come before, the person still dey worry plenty about imself. E dey keep im mind on imself, e still dey worry, and fear of wetin fit happen still dey worry am. For Spiritual Marij, the person dey look only to God and only want give Am all the glory wey e fit give. E no dey hesitate to do everything wey e need do to increase God glory, even if na just small. E no dey fear death, suffering, hard workโnothing at all. The soul don turn im attention so completely away from imself that e almost be like say e no even dey exist.
Because the soul don turn im attention so completely away from imself, that is, e dey focus completely on God and on giving Am glory, the only suffering wey e dey bear inside na because e know say e no go ever fit do enough to serve im Lord. E too weak to give God all the glory wey He deserve.
The soul no dey worry about imself too, because e know without any doubt say the God wey e love and serve go care for am far better than if e dey worry about imself. E get very deep trust for the loving attention and providence of God. The reward for that trust and for forgetting imself be say God dey care for the soul, dey pour grace on am pass wetin e need.
Wetin to Reflect On: You wish say you fit free from all the way you dey worry about yourself, all your worries, and all your fear about wetin fit happen for life? For plenty people, all these things na heavy load. The only way to this freedom na Spiritual Marij.
Think deeply about how e go be to experience this kind freedom. Imagine how different, and even strange for good way, e fit feel to free like this. God want give you this freedom. He no want make you carry the load of always thinking about yourself. He want make your eyes fix on Am so firmly that you no go worry about yourself at all, as you leave all those worries completely for God hand.
Reflect too on the truth say God go care for you far better than you fit care for yourself. Leave the โworryโ for God. Put yourself completely for His providence. Trust Am completely and enjoy the newness wey this level of surrender dey bring.
My Lord wey care for me so much, You care about every part of my life. You know me completely, and You don promise me say You go take care of everything. Abeg, give me the grace wey I need to surrender to You so completely that I go hand over every worry and concern wey I get to You. Make I forget myself completely and turn my attention only to You, with complete trust, as I leave myself for Your hand, knowing say You go care for my soul far better than I fit ever do by myself.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Seventy-Four: Strong Desire to Suffer
Apart from forgetting imself, the soul desire to suffer for God glory dey grow deeper too, but e only want this suffering if na God will and if e go give Am greater glory.
The second fruit na strong desire to suffer, although e no dey disturb her peace as e do before, because the burning desire wey souls like this get for God will to happen inside them dey make them accept everything wey He do. If He want make she suffer, she dey content; if not, she no dey torment herself reach the point of death about am as she dey do before. (VII.III #4).
Remember say suffering na one main experience for the journey to Heaven, because the Son of God enter this world of sin, willingly accept the consequences of sin, wey be suffering and death, transform suffering and death, and make them the means to eternal life. So now, suffering and death don carry the greatest spiritual power. When person freely accept suffering and death and offer them to God as sacrifice, that act dey join the soul to Christ Himself. This suffering wey person offer as sacrifice dey transform the soul as e receive the grace to live the human life of Christ wey suffer.
This free acceptance of suffering dey necessary for the places wey the soul stay before, as e dey move forward for the journey. For the place to stay wey dey the centre, once Spiritual Marij happen, the soul still dey desire to share for Christ sufferings, but e no dey hold on to suffering either. If e suffer, that one dey fine. If e no suffer, that one too dey fine. E no prefer one pass the other, and e no dey think much about whether suffering dey or e no dey. The only thing wey e desire na God glory for everything.
Wetin to Reflect On: The suffering wey human beings dey face dey confuse you? For plenty people, na one of the deepest mysteries for life. Why God wey good dey allow suffering? Why He no just remove all suffering? Although plenty people don think deeply about these questions with human reasoning and philosophy, na only for the seventh place to stay the real answer dey come.
If you still dey struggle to understand suffering and how person fit freely accept am, pray for di grace of Marij for Spirit. Know say for dis place wey soul dey stay, no be only say you go understand suffering well-well, but e no go get any bad effect on you. If you suffer for any way, e no go disturb you at all. Instead, e go only fill you with di desire to join your suffering to Christ own, for His glory.
Think deeply about di mystery of suffering. Think about how God answer human suffering by entering inside am, changing am, and giving am sacred power. Na only God wey get all power fit use di worst thing bring out di best. Na only our loving God fit use suffering bring holiness and di fullness of peace and joy. Think deeply about dis mystery, and even if you no understand am fully, still declare your faith in dis mystery, as you dey look forward to di day when you go understand everything perfectly as you enter Marij for Spirit.
My Lord wey suffer, as You look human beings wey don fall into sin and see di suffering wey we dey endure because we freely choose to turn away from You, You no turn away from us. Instead, You choose to enter our world, take human nature, experience di suffering wey sin cause, redeem dat suffering, and raise am reach di level of Your saving grace. Abeg, give me di grace to enter into Your most holy Passion and death, so dat I fit change and share fully for Your Resurrection.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Seventy-Five: To Love Your Enemies
Because di gift of Marij for Spirit dey change di soul to be like Christ as completely as e fit happen for dis world, di soul dey take on di Heart of Christ for everything, including love for enemies wey dey fill di whole soul.
When dem persecute am, e dey feel great joy deep inside, and e dey get far more peace than e get before for di same kind situation: e no dey keep grudge against im enemies, and e no dey wish dem any bad thing. In fact, e get special love for dem, e dey feel deep sorrow when e see dem for trouble, and e dey do everything wey e fit do to help dem, as e dey earnestly beg God on their behalf. E go gladly give up di favours wey His Majesty dey show am, if dem fit give im enemies those favours instead, to stop dem from offending our Lord (VII.III #4).
Dis na truly amazing grace. Before, when dem persecute di person for any way or sin against am, strong temptation to vex dey come, and sometimes e even dey want revenge, especially when di persecution serious. To love people wey don harm di soul for any way dey hard. For di places wey di soul don stay before, to love when persecution come na more of deliberate choice wey di soul dey struggle to make, as e dey push imself to do wetin right, choose to forgive, and pray make di bad feelings fade away.
Now wey di soul don change so fully in Christ, di moment e experience any kind persecution, e no dey ever lose im peace. Instead, love for dat person dey fill every part of di soul. Love dey fill di mind, di will, di imagination, and even di strong emotions and feelings, and na only di person wey dey cause di suffering e dey concerned about. Di soul no dey pay attention to imself, e no dey worry about any humiliation or suffering wey e receive, and all im attention dey on di other person. E dey ready and willing to do anything wey forgiveness need, and e even dey willing to go as far as to give up im own life for di person wey dey sin against am.
Di best example of dis kind love na when our Lord hang for di Cross, dey cry out to di Father, โFather, forgive dem, because dem no know wetin dem dey do.โ One thing wey dis kind love dey bring na say love truly dey set di person free. E don free from anger and hatred. Nothing wey other people do am dey wound im heart. E dey at peace, and na only di mercy of God dey fill am.
Think About Am: You dey struggle with anger? Dat anger dey live inside you, dey occupy your imagination, dey affect your peace, and dey stir your strong emotions? If na so, God want make you free. But dis freedom na gift. You no fit claim am for yourself, and you no fit get am by your own willpower. E dey come only for dis seventh place wey soul dey stay, where freedom dey.
Think deeply about any hurt, bitterness, or anger wey you dey struggle with. Think about di heavy load wey these experiences be, and how good e go be to free from dem completely. Sometimes we no dey enter di seventh place wey soul dey stay because we no gree let dis hurt go. E must be cleansed away. E must comot and be destroyed inside us. Na only God fit do dis, if we allow Am.
Remember di people wey don hurt you, and deliberately do things wey show love for dem. Choose to forgive. Pray di words wey Jesus pray for di Cross as E hang there inside such terrible pain. To do so go help prepare your heart more fully for dis gift of Marij for Spirit.
Lord wey get mercy pass all, for di Cross, after dem don treat You with so much wickedness, Your heart full with such deep mercy and compassion for di people wey dey persecute You, sotey You cry out from di deepest part of Your being: โFather, forgive dem, because dem no know wetin dem dey do.โ Abeg, fill my heart with this same deep mercy and compassion. Join my heart with Your own, so that You go always speak those words inside me and through me. Dear Lord, I love and forgive everybody wey don sin against me. Help me to love dem with all my heart.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Seventy-Six: Desire to Serve God
Remember say for di sixth set of dwelling places, after di soul don receive di prayer of ecstasy, God touch am so deeply that di only thing wey e want na to die and stay with God forever for Heaven. This strong desire cause suffering inside di soul, but peace and joy still dey inside di suffering, because di soul know say e never fit remain fully for God presence. For this seventh dwelling place, things change.
Di thing wey surprise me pass na say di sorrow and distress wey souls like these bin feel because dem no fit die and enjoy our Lord presence don now change to desire wey strong just as well: to serve Him, to make people praise Him, and to help others with all di power wey dem get. No be only say dem no dey long for death again; dem even want long life and crosses wey heavy well-well, if those things go bring even small honour to our Lord (VII.III #5).
To some extent, di suffering wey di soul feel inside for di sixth set of dwelling places come from concern for wetin e want for itself, wey no fit happen. Now, that concern for itself don change to nothing but love. Because of this, di soul forget itself completely, and na only love of God fill am. If na God will say di soul go remain for earth for one thousand lifetimes, e go accept with all willingness. If di soul death for earth go give God greater glory, then na that one e go choose. All wey di soul want do na to serve God will without thinking about itself at all. God and His holy will become di only thing wey concern di soul and give am joy. Plenty times, di soul dey feel deep pull towards crosses wey heavy well-well, because e see those crosses as di greatest chances to give God greater glory.
Tink Am Well: Wetin be di purpose of your life? Wetin you desire pass? Wetin be your goals and di things wey you dey strive to achieve? Too many times, we dey pursue goals for this world wey no fit ever satisfy us completely. For Spiritual Marij, everything dey change. We now get one main goal. With desire wey fill our whole being, we want do everything wey we fit do to serve God and give Him perfect glory.
As you dey think about di things wey you put first for life, na to give God glory and fulfil His will be your one and only goal? Na so e must be. No other thing matter for life. Nothing. God plan for your life far pass anything wey you fit ever plan for yourself. His ways pass your ways by distance wey no get end. His will na di only thing wey worth to work towards for life.
Today, think deeply about your own goals. Pray make your love for God become so strong that His will go take over all your desires and everything wey you dey strive to achieve for life. You trust God? You trust Him reach to choose His will as di one and only mission for your life? Pray for di gift of Spiritual Marij so that everything go make sense and you go understand say to work for any other purpose apart from to give God glory and fulfil His perfect will na work wey no fit achieve anything.
God wey Your greatness no get end, Your will great pass anything wey I fit ever imagine by measure wey no get end. Na You and only You deserve all my praise and glory. Na to give You glory be why You create me, and e must become di only purpose of my life, because You be everything, and na inside You di fullness of life dey. Abeg, draw me closer to You, and open di door to di inner room of my soul, so that You go transform me and I go live forever for Your eternal glory.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Seventy-Seven: Di Push Wey Dey Come from Inside
For di dwelling places wey come before, as di soul experience di prayer of union and ecstasy, e often receive powerful spiritual comfort wey change am and set am on fire with love for God. But for this final state of Spiritual Marij, di soul don now get used to this complete spiritual union. Because of this, di union wey e dey enjoy no dey bring powerful spiritual comfort with am. Instead, e dey experience many gentle โstirringsโ from God wey dey sustain am. No dryness dey for prayer, and no troubles dey. Na only sweet desires wey no dey stop dey burn inside. These stirrings dey flow from di centre of di soul and rise inside am like blazing fire wey dey burn upwards from di centre of di soul, steadily, without stopping, and dey consume everything.
When you receive these promptings, remember say dem come from the rum wey dey deepest inside, where God dey dwell for our souls. Praise Am with all your heart, because na Him dey send you this message, or love letter, wey E write with such tender care, and with secret signs wey na only you fit understand and know wetin E dey ask. No fail at all to answer His Majesty, even if you dey busy with outward activities and dey follow people talk. Many times, e fit please our Lord to show you this secret favour for public; but to answer Am dey very easy, because the answer suppose come entirely from inside you. You fit answer with an act of love or ask with Saint Paul: โLord, wetin You want make I do?โ Jesus go show you many ways to please Am. Na favourable moment, because e be like say E dey listen to us, and this gentle touch nearly always dey prepare the soul to answer with strong determination wey no hold anything back (VII.III #8).
These gentle, sweet and continuous promptings of God love wey dey fill the soul completely dey give the soul steady and very โstrong determination wey no hold anything backโ to always serve God will without any hesitation at all. E dey so clear say this grace come from God that the soul know say the devil no fit ever produce am. God love don expand the soul so much that for God to possess am completely don become normal for am. The soul no dey often experience deep ekstasi or times when the spirit dey soar again, because e no need dem again. Since God don possess the soul completely, the soul dey move steadily and peacefully, with quiet inward attention to God, as e dey serve God willโsometimes with plenty activity, and other times, alone and at rest.
Reflection: You notice the change wey this prayer dey bring? Before, as the soul still dey move forward and dey undergo transformation, God dey act in ways wey seem more drastic. The soul dey enter trance, the spirit dey soar, the soul dey suffer inside, and e even dey experience wetin resemble bodily death as God draw the spirit up into Himself. But now wey God don possess the soul fully, deep peace and perfect virtue dey follow.
Even if you never enjoy this depth of Spiritual Marriage, try understand am like person wey stand outside dey look inside. Na blessed state. Reflect on how wonderful e go be to receive these constant promptings of love, wey dey flow up from the centre of your soul and fill every part of your whole being.
If this description seem like something wey no belong to this world, know say na so e be. But God want make am part of your life here and now, while you still dey for this world. E want give your soul this continuous and steady gift of His love wey E dey make known. E want make you continually soak yourself inside Him and live by His divine grace.
Lord wey gentle and tender pass all, I no worthy at all of Your perfect love, but You still desire so deeply to pour am on me without measure. Abeg, help me know how I fit serve You better for this life, and free me from everything wey dey keep me away from You. I open my soul as fully as I fit to Your tender promptings of love, Your sweet love letters, and the messages wey dey gently flow from inside.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Seventy-Eight: Strong Mind through God Im โComotโ
As long as we still dey for this world, we must always remember say na only one step dey between us and mortal sin. So, when a soul dey live for the seventh dwelling placeโthe Presence Chamber where e dey with its Lordโonce in a long while, E go withdraw from the soul for this form of prayer and allow the many creatures wey get venom to attack. But E dey do this for the good of the soul, to help am grow for fortitude, remain humble, and never forget say e depend completely on God.
My sisters, make una no think say the effects wey I mention dey always remain at the same level for these souls, because as far as I remember, I tell una say, for most cases, our Lord dey sometimes leave people like these to the weakness of their human nature. The creatures wey get venom from the deep ditch round the castle and from the other rooms go immediately join together to take revenge for the time wey dem lose their power. (VII.IV #1).
Saint Teresa believe say people wey dey for the seventh dwelling place no go ever commit mortal sin, or even deliberately commit venial sin. But from time to time, dem go remember their past sins, and dem go also get deep awareness say dem fit still sin. Even Jesus experience this for the Cross when E cry out, โMy God, my God, why You don abandon Me?โ (Matthew 27:46).
Dese souls dey see how dem need God, and dis go continue to cause holy pain wey dey torment dem inside. Dem fit even find say dem no sure whether dem dey for state of sin. But dis confusion no dey lead to despair; e dey make di gift of di Fear of di Lord increase. Even though God fit allow di creatures wey get poison to attack di soul sometimes, even after e don enter di number seven place wey soul dey stay, di soul no go give in to dese creatures, and e no go turn away from God. Dese attacks go only make di soul stronger and make e determination to remain in Christ deeper.
Reflection: Think of one time for your life when you dey very close to God for long, but suddenly, di evil one attack you with great power. How dis one affect you? For people wey dey di number seven place wey soul dey stay, dis kind attack go only make dem stronger for courage to stand firm and for love of God. E go also humble dem again, and help dem make dem no ever forget how dem depend on God.
You understand how you depend on God for everything? If God forget you even for one moment, you no go exist again. More than dat, you no fit do anything good unless na God dey work inside you. No ever forget dis truth wey dey teach humility.
Any time don dey when you feel as if God no dey with you? If so, na either your sin cause am or na special favour from God cause am. If na sin cause am, repent and turn back to God. But if na favour from God, no worry. Make an act of faith in God. Thank Am because you dey feel di same absence wey E feel, and renew your commitment to serve His holy will. Know say dis way wey e seem as if our Lord don leave you na special opportunity for di gift of courage to stand firm to increase.
Lord wey Your strength perfect, You know everything. You know wetin I need and when I need am. For dose moments when You seem far from me, abeg, increase my faith in You. Make I always know say You dey near, and make I no ever turn away from You. Abeg, increase every virtue inside me, especially di courage to stand firm wey I need to persevere reach di end, when You go invite me to dey with You forever.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Seventy-Nine: Di Cross Dem Wey Heavy Pass
Since our Lord suffer well-well as human being, we no suppose expect anything less. Na often di heaviest crosses dem dey give people wey dey di number seven place wey soul dey stay. But dese crosses no dey ever lead to despair. Na only to God glory dem dey lead. In fact, di heavier di cross wey dese holy souls carry for God, di more glory God dey receive through dem, and di more peace and joy dey fill dem.
We dey always find say na people wey near Christ our Lord pass dey carry di heaviest cross: think of wetin His glorious Mother and di Apostles carry. How you think say St. Paul take pass through all dat great labour? From di way e behave, we dey learn di fruits of true visions and contemplation wey come from our Lord, no be from wetin we imagine by ourselves or from di devil deception. You think say St. Paul hide imself to enjoy dese spiritual comforts as e like, without doing any other thing? You know say, as far as we fit learn, e no ever take one day rest. E no fit don sleep plenty too, since e dey work all night to earn wetin e go take live (VII.IV #7).
When one soul enter Spiritual Marriage, e dey become even more like Christ. As Saint Paul talk, โNo be me dey live again, but na Christ dey live inside meโ (Galatians 2:20). For dat reason, di soul for di number seven place wey soul dey stay go follow Christ example for di sufferings wey E endure for dis world, in one very deep way. Dem no dey avoid dese crosses or run from dem; dem dey accept dem fully with joy, just as Jesus accept His Cross with His whole being. Dem dey become sacrifices of love, and di power of suffering wey Christ don redeem dey show for dem lives.
Sometimes, di trials go come from outside, as things wey happen to dem, like serious sickness. Other times, di sufferings go dey inside, and na only di soul and God go know about dem. Dis suffering wey dey hidden inside show in one special way for di life of Saint Teresa of Calcutta and Saint Thรฉrรจse of Lisieux. For outside, plenty people love and admire dose saints when dem dey alive. But for inside, dem carry one very heavy cross with di strongest determination and love, as dem dey follow di example of di sufferings of their Lord inside dem.
Reflection: You ready to accept di heaviest crosses for our Lord, as you dey follow His example? If you never ready, know say di desire for dis kind crosses still dey wait for you.
When soul enter Spiritual Marriage, any cross wey dem give am no go too heavy, because na Christ dey carry the cross inside am. Think well about how you dey see the crosses for your life. If you dey run from dem, dey find how to remove dem, then know say God still get plenty more wey E want do inside you. E want change you so deep reach say every cross go become sweet.
Think about the crosses wey you don turn your back on, complain about, and even lose hope because of dem before. Show sorrow for the way you react, and pray for the gift to fit run go meet those crosses for future with heart wey full of love.
My Lord wey give Yourself as sacrifice, You stand firm for Your decision to embrace every suffering wey You endure out of perfect love. Your Cross become Your throne of grace and glory, and You embrace am with all the powers for Your Sacred Soul. Abeg, give me this grace wey pass wetin person fit imagine, make I endure every cross like You. Free me from every fear of suffering, and give me Your eyes make I see my crosses as chances to receive grace wey plenty well-well. Give me Your courage to embrace those crosses with love and peace wey full everywhere for my heart.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Lesson Eighty: Di Highest Point of Good Works
So that her sisters no go think say this journey inside the soul towards Spiritual Marriage na only for person own benefit, as if everything na only about how person soul join with God, Saint Teresa end her great book by explaining clearly say the final purpose of this journey to God na to bear fruit for the Kingdom through works wey dey give God glory and save souls. Even though this one first happen through the change wey God make inside person soul, that change must overflow enter works of love.
Na this be the final purpose and aim of prayer, my daughters; na this be the reason for spiritual marriage wey im children na always good works. Works na the clear sign wey no fit deceive us, wey dey show say these favours come from God, as I tell una (VII.IV #10).
Some people, after dem receive this kind favours from God, dey fear to go out and share wetin dem don receive with other people through life of service wey no dey seek personal gain. The goal of this spiritual journey no be only the good of the soul. Na the good of the whole Church. Jesusโ mission na to give Im Father glory by saving souls. This one must be our mission too. Yes, we dey pray to become holy and to become one with God. But unless that unity produce the virtues wey we need to go out and serve other people, then e no be true union with God.
Even for convent where sisters dey live apart from the outside world, love for God and neighbour na one main fruit of this prayer. God call the sisters to show love by praying for the world, but E also call dem to love the sisters wey dem dey meet every day. When that love increase and the sisters become blessing to one another, na this be the clearest sign say Spiritual Marriage wey dey transform person don happen.
Love dey start for house. First of all, God want touch your family and close friends through you. E fit be say God no call you to become great missionary or person wey dey preach the Gospel for public, but E go surely call you to pour Im love generously on the people wey you dey meet throughout your day, without seeking anything for yourself.
For this dwelling place, the whole person dey completely taken up in God. The spirit, soul, power to understand, will, strong desires, feelings, senses, body, and every other part of the person dey joined to God. So, the soul no dey love only with spiritual love, but also with human love wey God don make divine, wey e dey express with body, strong feelings, spirit, understanding, and all the power of im will. When this person see other people wey dey live sinful lives, e dey deeply feel wetin dem dey pass through and grieve with holy sorrow. When e see person wey confuse or don lose hope, e dey allow wetin e see move am to reach out. When e see the people wey close to am dey grow for virtue, e dey work to support this growth and give God praise. To put am simply, when person enter Spiritual Marriage, e go lay down im life for other people, dey live life of sacrifice for dem, and dey act as holy slave of everybody.
Reflection: How deep and strong your love for the people wey dey around you be? You dey love dem no be only through the choices wey you make, but also with every part of who you be? Love for other people don fill your mind completely? You dey feel that love? Your strong desires dey push that love forward? You dey find chances to lay down your life as sacrifice for other people? If na so, this na sign say God dey transform you through Spiritual Marriage.
The journey to the perfection of Spiritual Marriage fit look long and hard, and sometimes e fit even look like wetin no fit happen. But no be so. E really possible to reach am, and na wetin God want for all our lives. Na only we ourselves dey hold us back.
As we dey end these reflections on this great spiritual work of Saint Teresa of รvila, make your determination to move forward for this journey stronger. Go back to di different dwelling places and experiences of prayer wey Teresa teach. Use di lessons, reflections and prayers as foundation to grow for holiness. God want make you become saint. Become one. No hesitate to give yourself completely to di holy will of God for your life.
Lord of perfect love, Your life bear good fruit wey no get limit. Perfect love continue to flow from Your Most Sacred Heart. That love show for every word wey You talk, every action for Your life, and every thought wey You get. Abeg, fill me so completely with Your love that every part of my being go enter fully into Your perfect love. Use me for any way wey You choose, so that I go become instrument wey dey show di love inside Your Heart more perfectly.
Most Holy Trinity wey dey dwell inside me, I love You, I trust You, I surrender my life to You.
Conclusion
Saint Teresa end her book Palace Wey Dey Inside with this note to her sisters, wey we put here in full:
IHS
EVEN THOUGH, as I tell una, I no too want begin this work, now wey e don finish, I glad well-well say I write am, and I think say di trouble wey I take worth am, although I admit say e no really cost me much. My sisters, as I consider how strictly una dey remain inside convent, di small time wey una get to relax, and di many things wey fit make life easier wey some of una convents no get, I think say e fit comfort una to enjoy unaselves inside this palace wey dey inside, where una fit enter and waka about as una like, any time wey una want, without asking una superiors for permission. Na true say una no fit enter all di mansions by una own power, no matter how great una think say that power be, unless di Lord of di palace Himself allow una enter. So I advise una make una no force anything if una meet any obstacle, because that one go displease Am so much that E no go ever allow una enter them. E love humility well-well: if una consider unaselves unworthy to enter di third mansion, E go grant una di favour to enter di fifth even sooner. Then, if una serve Am well there and go there often, E go draw una enter di mansion where E Himself dey stay, and una no ever need leave there unless di Prioress call una comot. This supreme Master want make una obey her commands as if na Him own. If her orders make una often dey away from di room where E dey receive una, any time wey una return, E go hold di door open for una. Once una don learn how to enjoy this palace, una go always find rest, no matter how painful una trials be, because of di hope say una go return to una Lord, and nobody fit stop that one. Although na only seven mansions I mention, each one still get many more rooms, for up, for down, and around am, with fine gardens, fountains, and paths wey twist and turn so much say person fit miss road, together with other things wey sweet so much that una go want use all unaselves praise di great God in return, wey create di soul for His own image and likeness. If una find anything for di way I arrange this writing wey help una know Am better, make una dey sure say na His Majesty send am to encourage una, and say anything wey una find wrong inside na my own. In return for my strong desire to help una serve Am, my God and my Lord, I beg una, any time wey una read this, make una praise His Majesty with all una heart on my behalf, and beg Am make E help His Church flourish, give light to di Lutherans, forgive my sins, and free me from purgatory, where perhaps I go dey, by di mercy of God, when una see this book (if dem give una after theologians don examine am). If any error dey inside these writings, na because of wetin I no know; for everything, I submit to di teachings of di holy Roman Catholic Church, wey I be member of now, as I solemnly declare and promise say I go remain both for life and for death. Make praise and blessing dey go to our Lord God forever! Amen, Amen.
I finish to write this book for di convent of St. Joseph of รvila, 1577, on di Vigil of St. Andrew, for di glory of God, wey dey live and reign forever and ever! Amen.