Di Nomba Six Set of Rooms

Di Time of Engagement for Marriage

Lesson Fifty-Nine: Di “Bad” News First

E easy to think say as soul dey rise higher go meet God, and dey enter deeper and deeper towards di room for di centre inside where God dey dwell, di sufferings wey di person dey experience go dey reduce. But, as e dey surprise us, na di opposite be true.

O my God, how many troubles, both inside and outside, person must suffer before e enter di nomba seven set of rooms! Sometimes, as I dey think deeply about dis, I dey fear say, if person know dem beforehand, human weakness fit hardly bear even di thought of dem or make up im mind to face dem, no matter how great di gain fit look (VI.I #3).

Why God go still allow serious trials and sufferings for soul wey dey so close to Am? No be di person sins directly cause dis sufferings. For di earlier sets of rooms, di soul suffer well-well as e dey work to overcome im mortal and venial sins. For di nomba six set of rooms, di cleansing of every spiritual imperfection still dey continue, and dis dey cause suffering. But here, most of di suffering na different kind, and e get different purpose.

God get power so much that E don take suffering and death turn dem to way to become holy. Suffering now get great spiritual power. Di experience of suffering, wey grace don now transform, fit give soul many virtues, like courage, humility and trust. To die completely to your own self don now become di way to new life for Christ.

Di sufferings for dis set of rooms dey both outside and inside. Suffering for outside include sickness, disgrace for public, mockery from other people, loss of worldly possessions, and many other trials wey common for life. For dis stage of di spiritual journey, God dey often allow dis trials because E see say di soul go gain plenty from dem for di end, once e don endure dem.

Trials for inside include di pain for inside wey any trial for outside dey cause, dryness for prayer, inability to keep attention on something, and even serious spiritual pain for inside wey person no fit explain and wey seem as if e no get source. Through all dis, di soul dey deeply aware of im sin and how e depend completely on God for everything. So, when other people praise am because of im virtue, e dey suffer plenty because e know say na only God be di source of anything good wey fit dey inside am, no be im own self. Praise dey pain di soul even pass hatred because di soul know say everything come from God.

Di only remedy na to wait for God to clear away all dis difficulties. When dat happen, di mind go clear, and everything go return to order. Di soul know say na God win dis victory. Dis dey make di soul humble even more as e see im own weakness and God strength.

Di best thing wey soul fit do during dis painful experiences na to trust God; allow di sufferings wey e dey endure to build strength, humility and courage inside am; remind imself of di truths of God; and do outward works of love.

Reflection: You dey willing to enter deeper into di Passion of our Lord? Jesus perfect for every way, yet Im suffering, both for outside and inside, great well-well. E allow dis to happen inside Im soul as way to transform our human suffering into way to become holy. You dey willing to embrace dis way to perfection? You dey willing to enter into dis divine mystery?

At first, when we face any kind of trial, our fallen human nature dey look for way to escape. We dey find remedy. But for dis set of rooms, di “remedy” no be to remove di suffering; na to embrace am. We dey embrace am more fully so that we fit unite our lives with Christ, Who embrace all suffering and transform am. We no dey above di Lord. We must live di very life wey E live if we wan share for Im glory. You understand dis, and you dey willing to accept dis gift from God?

Think deeply about di suffering wey you dey struggle with right now. Instead of to dey find way to escape am, see dat suffering as way to reach di greatest goal wey dey possible. See am as way to reach holiness. Fix your eyes on di Cross of Jesus. Think deeply about every suffering wey E endure for outside and inside. Try to look inside Im soul, and ask Am to show you everything wey E pass through. Embrace Im suffering as sacrifice. Seek to enter di innermost room of your soul where di Lord dey dwell, and there, deep inside, offer your suffering to Am as sacrifice. E go accept dis offering and pour on you di fullness of di grace wey E win through Im Cross.

My Lord wey suffer, You face all suffering without turning away. You no ever waver for Your aim to embrace all suffering and transform am into di new and glorious way to di fullness of grace. Abeg, help me to embrace every suffering wey I dey endure, both for outside and inside, so that I fit imitate You more fully. Make di way wey I freely embrace my suffering and offer am to You as sacrifice deep inside my soul become way for plenty grace to reach me and di world.

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

Lesson Sixty: Gentle Piercings from Di Deepest Part Inside

God de make each soul pure and strong for one way wey belong to that soul alone. So, Saint Teresa continue to describe other ways wey soul de suffer inside for mysterious way, even as e still get peace.

E de increase how she de long for Am through ways wey gentle and fine so tey even the soul no fit notice them; and I no think say I fit explain them except to people wey don experience them by themself. These desires na gentle, hidden movements wey de rise from the deepest part of the soul; I no know anything wey person fit compare them with (VI.II #2).

She continue talk say “this suffering be like say e de pierce the very heart, and when the One Wey wound am pull the arrow comot, e be like say E de pull the heart comot too, because the love wey the heart de feel deep well-well.” This gentle, deep pain wey de pierce person for the deepest part of the soul na pain wey sweet well-well and full of peace. As soon as the soul begin rest inside am, “the small spark suddenly quench, and leave the heart de long to suffer those pains of love again.”

This piercing for the centre of the soul no involve the person’s memory, imagination or power to reason. These powers know about this experience and de wonder wetin de happen, but dem no interfere. This experience fit come and go, become stronger and become weaker. Through all of am, God de do one wonderful work wey deep pass wetin the soul fit understand.

The soul still know well-well say no be devil fit de cause this. First, this na pain wey sweet, full of joy and full of peace. Na only God fit join pain with this kind sweetness. When devil cause pain inside person, peace no dey—na only worry, hopelessness and confusion dey. Second, this pain de come from the deepest part wey devil no get control over. Third, the good fruit wey de grow for the soul na clear sign say e come from God. The soul come make firm decision to suffer for God with joy and to leave all earthly pleasures as things wey no get lasting use or value.

The soul know say this strange gift wey de pierce am and still sweet am come from God, and e no go ever doubt am. Instead, e receive am with joy as e de look forward to all wetin God de do inside am for this mysterious and hidden way. Now, the soul de long for God even more, and this longing for wetin e never fully get de cause this sweet pain even more.

Lastly, sometimes God de give soul these same graces without any pain at all. Instead, E de give the soul sweet, burning zeal wey de push am to long for God, as e de offer Am acts of love, praise and adoration wey show great courage.

Reflection: The ways wey God de use make our souls perfect na mystery, and dem pass wetin we fit ever understand. God don ever do work inside you wey you no understand? You don ever experience something wey pierce you inside, wey you know say e come from God, wey produce plenty good fruit, and wey still leave you with peace and joy at the same time?

If you never experience this kind thing, at least try use faith accept this description wey Saint Teresa give about this deep and mysterious work wey God de do to make soul pure. Tell God say you ready to endure anything for Him, so that E go change you completely. No fear any piercing wey God want make you experience inside. Look forward to am with hope and joy, and embrace am the moment God give you this holy gift.

God Wey holy pass all, Your ways truly full of mystery, and sometimes dem de even confuse person. Abeg, come meet me and use Your arrow of love pierce the centre of my soul. Clean me from every desire to follow only my own will. Fill me with holy virtue. Set my soul on fire with the pure love of Your Heart wey de give itself as sacrifice. Make I no ever draw back from anything wey You want do inside me; instead, make I run go meet am with all the strength of my soul.

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

Lesson Sixty-One: Words Wey Person Dey Hear for Imagination

As soul de move forward, e de become more and more aware of the many ways wey God de speak to am. Three common ways na through words wey de come through imagination, visions wey de come through imagination, and visions wey de come through understanding. About these ways of communication, Saint Teresa talk say:

E de do this through words wey E de speak to the soul for many different ways; sometimes e be like say dem de come from outside; other times, from the deep parts inside the soul; or again, from the higher part of the soul; while some other words de come from outside so clearly that the ears fit hear them like real voice.

Locution for imagination na when soul sense say God dey speak to am clearly and directly inside imagination. Even though God dey use this way take communicate with soul, person no fit always rely well on this kind locution, because false locutions fit come from devil or from person own imagination. People wey their imagination dey work too much dey often fall for these false “words” wey dem think say na God talk. Dem fit believe say God speak to dem, but na the weakness of their imagination or deception from devil really bring the words. To discern whether na really God speak one word inside imagination or not, Saint Teresa give us three signs wey we fit use test where the words come from.

First, if na God the word come from, that word go make wetin e talk happen. For example, make we say one person don dey struggle with plenty fear and worry, and suddenly God speak to the person say, “No fear, I dey with you.” If na God the word come from, the person go immediately experience God power as e dey drive the fear comot.

Second, true locution go always come with deep peace and mind wey gather and rest for God, so that the soul go feel moved to praise God from the heart.

Third, when na God the word wey person hear come from, the mind go remember am for very long time. If na imagination bring am or na deception from devil, e go fade more quickly, and the imagination go soon move go other ideas.

The main thing na to know say God truly dey speak to us for different ways. For this way, E dey speak to our imagination one word wey agree with Scripture, or E bring out one image from our memory. This message go then reach our human power to reason, where we go understand am. After that, e go comfort our will, wey be our power to choose, and help am respond with joy to the word wey God speak. These graces no suppose surprise us; na normal way wey God dey communicate with soul for these dwelling places.

Reflection: You don ever suddenly sense say God communicate one idea to you, and you know say na from Am e come? We no suppose dey look for these things or allow dem impress us too much. When na God dem come from, dem go make us humble and leave us with deep peace and firm assurance. Try remember any time wey this kind thing fit don happen to you.

Your imagination dey work too much sometimes? If na so, know say e also easy to imagine one message and think say na from God, or allow yourself pay attention to one subtle word wey the evil one speak to mislead you. You don ever sense say God speak to you, but later discover say this thing wey seem like message from God no bear any good fruit, or e even leave you confused and without comfort? If na so, learn the lesson say we dey often fall for these false ways of communication. Reject dem.

As you dey think about this special way wey God sometimes dey communicate with imagination, think also about the danger of pursuing these words. If you believe say na God the message come from, test am. Use the signs for discernment wey dey above take test everything. For the end, if na God the words come from and you try resist dem, God go still reach you, and the fruit wey E want go come.

My Lord wey dey always speak, You dey communicate with me day and night for ways wey na only You fully know. I pray make I always know Your sweet voice and respond to You when You speak. Make I never allow anything mislead me, as I allow my imagination create ideas of e own. I pray also make You always protect me from the evil one and the subtle lies wey e dey speak without stopping.

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

Lesson Sixty-Two: Visions Wey Person Dey See for Imagination

Later, for the seventh dwelling place, Saint Teresa talk about another way wey God dey use imagination speak to soul. Instead of hearing one voice wey ear no fit hear as e dey speak certain words, the soul discover one image inside imagination wey e know say na from God. Many times, this image concern the Sacred Humanity of our Lord, or na image from Scripture wey enter the imagination with force and draw deep love and devotion from the soul. For example, one person fit suddenly, without doing anything to make am happen, become deeply aware of our Lord with crown of thorns for His head, as people dey mock Am and laugh Am to shame. Or the person fit see, with imagination, the glory of our Lord for His throne for Heaven.

Na only the inner sight dey see the image…The splendour of the One wey show Himself for the vision resemble light wey God pour inside the soul, like sunlight wey veil cover, and the veil clear like diamond, if dem fit weave cloth like that; His garment come resemble fine linen. The soul wey God grant this vision almost always enter ecstasy, because human nature too weak to bear this kind awe-inspiring sight.

The effect wey e go get for the soul go resemble the one wey locution dey get. After Saint Teresa describe these effects, the deep love and the spiritual certainty wey dey follow them, she explain say soul no suppose ever seek this kind vision. Her reasons nearly be the same reasons why person no suppose ever seek or desire locution too.

These vision wey dey come through imagination be like precious stone inside locket. Na our Lord hold the key to the locket; no be we. Na only Him fit open am from time to time, to leave clear vision of Himself for the memory. If the soul try open this locket by itself, then the “vision” wey the soul experience no go come from God, but e go come either from the soul imagination or from the devil.

Na these be the reasons why we no suppose ever seek this kind vision: First, we no deserve this kind grace, so to think say we deserve am show say we lack humility. Second, if we desire them, e almost sure say the devil go use false vision deceive us. Third, when we strongly desire this kind vision, our imagination go begin work and e fit produce false vision. Fourth, na only our Lord know wetin we need, so e go show say we too dey assume wetin no be our place to assume if we think say we know say we need this kind vision. Fifth, many times, these vision dey reveal Christ as E dey suffer, and dem dey draw the soul enter suffering too. But unless na our Lord dey draw us enter this deep understanding, we no go fit bear am. Sixth, the soul must trust God enough to wait for Him, and only receive this kind inner vision if na His wish to give am. If not, we fit do our souls more harm than good.

Reflection: Our Lord don ever reveal one powerful image of His holiness to you? The thought of His Passion and death don ever suddenly touch you deeply? Or one image of His glory don ever suddenly fill your whole being? No seek this kind favour, but if dem ever come to you, know say na our Lord dey reveal Himself to you for one special way.

Think deeply about the life of Christ. Think deeply about His birth, His ministry, His suffering, His death, His resurrection, and how E ascend enter Heaven. As you dey think deeply about these moments for Christ life for earth, know say you no fit ever understand Him and His holy soul unless our Lord reveal Himself to you for the way wey only Him fit do. But even as this one na true, no ever tire to meditate on the holy human nature of our Lord.

Think deeply too about any moment when our Lord reveal some part of His life to you. Take time enjoy that memory. Allow am continue to bear fruit for your life. Rejoice for am, and no ever forget am. If our Lord never reveal Himself to you for these ways, rejoice for that one too, because na only our Lord know wetin we need and when we need am.

Human nature of Christ wey holy pass all, I love You and I adore You. I worship You and I give You my life. Thank You as You become human, for Your life, death, resurrection, and glorification. Abeg, continue to reveal Yourself to me according to Your will wey perfect pass all. Make I always dey open for You to reveal Yourself to me for the way and at the time wey You choose.

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

Lesson Sixty-Three: Visions Wey Person Dey Understand Directly for Mind

For two different chapters where Saint Teresa describe the seventh dwelling place, she talk about “vision wey dey come directly to the mind wey person take dey understand,” and she show how dem different from locution and vision wey dey come through imagination. The first time wey she talk about them, she stress say these messages dey leave their mark directly for the mind wey person take dey understand, without using imagination or memory.

God dey speak to the soul for another way through one kind vision wey dey come directly to the mind wey person take dey understand, and I think say no doubt dey say e come from Him; dem go describe am later. E dey happen far inside the deepest part of the soul, wey be like say e dey clearly hear, for one very mysterious way, with its spiritual hearing, the words wey our Lord Himself dey speak to am (VI.III #19).

When God speak directly to the mind wey person take dey understand, the soul dey hear and understand every syllable perfectly. Wetin the message carry na usually something wey the soul no even dey think about, no know about, or never even hear before. E new completely. The soul dey hear and understand the words, but imagination no dey work with them. Even one word wey God speak dey pass knowledge and understanding wey deep well-well. The understanding still dey go beyond the words, even though the soul no fit explain am.

Later, when Saint Teresa come talk again about these vision wey dey reach intellect directly, she talk say sometimes, wetin God dey communicate no mainly be words wey E dey speak directly to di intellect. Instead, di soul “dey aware say Jesus Christ stand by im side, even though e no see Am with di eyes of di body or di eyes of di soul” (VI.VIII #2). This vision of our Lord and di awareness say E dey very close to di soul fit last for one week or even one whole year. Throughout this time, di soul dey receive comfort and strength as e dey get used to this close presence, and through this closeness, e dey grow for knowledge of God wey deep and high well-well. Even though God fit speak some words, just to know say God dey near and very close na gift wey no get price.

Because this vision dey happen directly inside di intellect (di human power to reason), e no dey depend on memory or imagination, and e no dey use any of dem at all. So, unlike vision and words wey person receive through imagination, these vision wey dey reach intellect directly no fit deceive di soul, because di devil no fit create dem, and imagination no fit affect dem or produce dem by itself. Di certainty, peace, growth for virtue, and spiritual comfort wey di soul dey receive plenty well-well.

God go also make di soul know His presence this way through His departure. No be say E go leave di soul, but di vision wey dey reach intellect directly go stop. Di soul dey notice God’s departure well-well, and this dey stir di desire make E return. God dey come and go, and this coming and going dey only make di soul more deeply aware of this vision. Through this gift, courage, humility, openness wey no dey hide weakness, and total dependence on God dey grow inside di soul.

Reflection: How well you dey aware say God dey present for your life all di time? You know say E dey with you always? E dey reveal His hidden presence to you for way wey pass wetin you fit explain? If na so, adore His holy presence. Recognise Am as E dey with you. Rejoice because E dey so close.

You dey also notice sometimes say God be like Person wey dey far? If na so, rejoice for this gift. E no dey ever leave you, but sometimes, E go hide His holy presence so you go fit sense Am more clearly when E reveal Himself to you. Di way E dey show Himself go dey come and go, and you must learn to notice this coming and going of our Lord.

If you no dey regularly sense di clear and certain presence of our Lord, seek Am through meditation. Depend on that kind of prayer, and look forward to this deeper kind of prayer wey fit come only when God Himself take di first step. When E give you this new kind of prayer through vision wey dey reach intellect directly, give Am all your attention and love.

Lord wey dey present always, You dey with me all di time, You dey live deep inside me, You dey sustain my existence, and You dey pour di gift of eternal life upon my soul. I thank You because You dey near always. I pray make I too fit see Your divine presence as Your holy will want. Abeg, show Yourself to me and draw me enter di dwelling place for di centre of my soul where You dey live.

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

Lesson Sixty-Four: Trances, Ecstasies or Raptures

Trance, ecstasy, and rapture na different words for di same spiritual experience. Na when di senses wey dey receive things from outside stop to work for a time, and God communicate some truth to di soul for im deepest centre. Di truth wey God communicate pass wetin di soul fit understand, but e dey do di soul plenty good.

While di soul dey inside ecstasy, e no be like say our Lord want make e understand these mysteries; di joy for Him wey fill am like person wey drink wine don do am. But sometimes, E dey pleased to bring di soul out of this rapture, and immediately, e dey perceive wetin dey inside di mansion. When e come back to itself, di mind fit remember wetin e don see, but e no fit describe am. And with im natural abilities, e no fit reach to see more of wetin pass nature than wetin God don choose to show am (VI.IV #10).

Saint Teresa describe two kinds of ecstasy. For di first kind, God make di soul aware of im sin and God’s forgiveness for special way. But wetin God dey communicate pass just spoken word. Na spiritual knowledge wey also dey bring about wetin e dey communicate. Di soul know say God don forgive am, and truly, God don forgive am. This encounter with God for di spirit dey make di memory, intellect, and will stop their work for a time, or e dey absorb dem completely. Later, di memory go remember this experience, but e no go ever fit explain am or understand am fully, because di spirit dey encounter di Spirit of God for way wey completely pass im natural ability to understand or explain. Sometimes, di soul dey also receive vision wey dey reach intellect directly, but di ecstasy no be di vision itself. Na something wey deep pass that and wey pass di powers of di intellect.

Another kind of ecstasy na wetin dem dey call “flight of the spirit.” For this ecstasy, e be like say body and spirit separate, and na only the spirit God draw up to Himself within one instant. When the spirit “return” to the body, the experience dey overwhelm am, and e dey so full of awe for God that e change forever.

E really be like say the soul don leave the body, but life still dey the body. And even though the person certainly no die, for some seconds, e no fit tell whether im spirit still dey inside im body or not. E dey feel say dem don carry am completely enter another place wey different well-well from where we dey live. For there, dem show am one light wey no be of this world at all. Even if e spend im whole lifetime dey try to picture the light and the wonders wey e see, e no go ever fit succeed. Within one instant, im mind learn so many things at once that even if im imagination and understanding spend years dey try to list them, e no go fit remember even one part out of a thousand parts of them. (VI.V #8)

Even though nobody dey speak any word during this flight of the spirit, the imagination dey receive plenty truths wey dey benefit am well-well. After this, the soul dey understand clearly how God great reach. As the soul dey see how God great reach, e dey see too how low e be, and this difference dey make im humility deepen. Then the soul dey choose God instead of itself and the world, and e dey feel the deepest contempt for all earthly things. This experience get so much power that the soul no go ever forget am, even though e no go ever fit explain am.

Reflection: Maybe this kind experience pass wetin you fit understand, because truly, e pass am. Even if God bless you to experience this kind gift for prayer, you no go fit explain am. Think deeply about this gift from our Lord wey nobody fit fully understand or explain.

Why God go communicate with a soul for this kind mysterious way? Na because God Himself pass wetin we fit understand completely. Im greatness and glory no get limit, and our minds wey get limit no fit fully understand Am. To know this suppose make us humble, leave us full of awe, and fill us with deep wonder.

If you don get this kind experience, remain humble and give thanks. If you no sure whether God don ever give you this kind gift, no think about am any further. Just know say this gift fit happen, and keep your heart open to am if God ever give you. Since nobody fit explain this gift, no try to explain am. Keep your eyes on the sacred human nature of our Lord, pray to Am, make effort to grow for virtue, and allow Am lead you when E choose to take control.

My God wey no get limit, Your glory pass everything wey anybody fit understand. You dey far above me for every way. I surrender myself to the mystery of who You be, and I adore You for the mystery wey You be. I love You, and I pray make You continue to draw me enter Your holy presence, dey reveal Yourself to me as You wish.

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

Lesson Sixty-Five: Tears Wey Too Plenty

The raptures wey dem explain for the lesson before this one dey touch the soul so deeply that e don change now. E want only to dey with God, e no fit bear to dey away from Am, e dey long for death, and God dey give am new moments of rapture again and again.

THESE favours wey high so dey make the soul desire so much to fully enjoy the One wey give am the favours, that life dey turn to painful torment wey still sweet, and the soul dey long for death with all im heart. This kind person dey often beg God with tears make E take am comot from this exile, where everything wey e see dey tire am. Na only to dey alone dey bring am great relief for some time, but before long, im sorrow dey return, and yet e no fit bear to dey without am. In short, this poor little butterfly no fit find rest wey go last. Im love tender so much that even the smallest thing dey make am burst into flame, and the soul dey take flight. So, for this mansion, raptures dey happen very often, and the soul no fit resist them, even for public (VI.VI #1).

Because these raptures dey happen often, and because the soul wey dey experience them no fit control them, this person dey often desire to remain alone with God, dey wait for the joy of death. At the same time, the soul dey desire to go out into the world with the hope say God fit use am save even one other soul. E dey do this even though the raptures wey dey happen often, some of them for public, dey make other people question the soul.

As the soul dey do im daily work, sometimes e dey feel something deep wey dey make am cry, and other people dey see those tears wey e no fit hold back. For other times, joy dey fill the soul so much that the only thing wey e fit do na to dey praise God continually and desire to lead other people into this same praise. E fit no even know wetin e dey praise God for, apart from say e know say God deserve all praise.

When tears come, no be depression or hopelessness dey cause them. Na tears wey mix with love for God, deep peace and joy. If other people persecute the soul, this one no dey harm am; instead, e dey praise God even more. E dey begin experience more and more freedom to live only as the Spirit of God dey lead am and as His grace dey move am. The desire to dey with God fully for Heaven dey so strong that other people fit easily notice say this holy soul mind dey on things beyond this world.

Reflection: You don ever receive the gift of holy tears? God and His goodness wey no get end don ever touch you so deeply that you begin cry tears of joy and love? If so, take time enjoy the love wey enter your heart so deeply that you no fit hold wetin you dey experience inside.

If this kind thing never touch you so deeply, admire wetin other people don experience, even though you never experience am yourself, and allow yourself to marvel at this kind experience. Pray make God give you Himself more fully, and run go meet Him when He begin reveal Himself.

Holy tears na gift wey dey move us to desire God even more. When God give you this gift, the only thing wey you fit do na to receive am. Before that time, work to make your desire for God burn more strongly through your meditation, the good and holy life wey you dey live, and your devotion with all your heart to our Lord and His holy will.

God wey get glory pass all, abeg wake deep longing for You inside me. Make me clearly recognise Your presence, and reveal Your love to me. Make my heart burn with love for You so much that na You go draw me pass every other thing, as I dey seek only You and Your will for my life. Make I cry tears of love for You, make holy sorrow for my sins fill me, and make I work with all the powers of my soul to reach Heaven, where I go live with You forever.

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

Lesson Sixty-Six: No Abandon Jesus Im Holy Human Nature

Once God don draw one soul enter the life of contemplation, and the soul don begin receive this knowledge and love of God wey He dey pour directly into am in a spiritual way, temptation go come make the soul want remain for that state, without ever returning to face the reality of im sin or the sufferings of our Lord as Scripture reveal them.

Some people…after our Lord don once raise them to perfect contemplation, dem dey wish to enjoy am continually. This one no possible; still, the grace of this state dey remain for their souls in such a way that dem no fit reason as before about the mysteries of the Passion and the Life of Christ (VI.VII #9).

For those souls wey don begin receive the graces of these dwelling places, two important lessons dey wey Saint Teresa want make dem never forget. First, this soul must continually remember im former sin and experience a “great martyrdom” through this remembrance. Even though e no longer dey suffer from the guilt of those sins, e must never forget them. E must also grow for holy sorrow wey mix with thanksgiving as e dey remember the mercy of God through which e receive forgiveness for those sins.

Apart from continually helping this holy sorrow to grow, Saint Teresa strongly advise us to continually return to the Sacred Humanity of Christ. Even though meditation on our Lord life and sufferings go now dey different from how e be for the first dwelling places, we must never abandon His life for this earth. Instead, we must continually try to keep His human life for our minds. After we don receive the grace of contemplation, to return to meditation on our Lord Passion go still involve all the powers of the soul.

The soul dey look with a simple gaze at Who He be and how we dey treat Him without gratitude in return for such terrible sufferings. Then the will, even if e no feel any tenderness, dey desire to do some service for Him because of such great mercies. E dey long to suffer something for Him wey bear so much for us, and e dey occupy itself with similar reflections, where memory and understanding dey also play their own part (VI.VII #14).

E dey very important to remember this teaching after person don experience the graces of quiet contemplation for these places wey soul dey dwell. To dey always return to deep meditation on the human nature of Christ go especially help soul avoid the trap of trying to use im own power produce false experiences of contemplation. As long as we still dey this life, we must put our whole self inside the human life of Christ, dey think deeply about Am and dey seek to imitate Am for our own lives. The only difference between this return through meditation to the Holy Human Nature of Christ and the meditation for the first three places wey soul dey dwell be say the power to understand, the memory and the will seem to dey enter the mystery of Christ with more inward focus and quiet contemplation, as dem dey strive to meet God inside the soul rather than through outward things.

Reflection: You don commit yourself to quietly fix your heart on the Holy Human Nature of Christ and to meditate on Am? You dey long for Am, dey seek to live with Am, in Am and through Am? If na so, make you no ever tire to return to the earthly life of Christ. Think deeply about how E become human and how dem born Am, His preaching and miracles, and especially His suffering, death and resurrection.

How often you dey meditate on the human nature of Christ? How often you dey try to enter the mystery of His suffering? Today, spend some time to meditate on one part of Christ’s life. Saint Teresa especially love to meditate on the agony wey Jesus suffer for the garden. Turn to that meditation. Try to enter deep into wetin e mean. Seek to understand wetin Jesus suffer that night. Look into His very soul, His thoughts, wetin E dey long for and wetin E desire.

If God don give you the grace of prayer of quiet contemplation, whether small or plenty, no allow that gift lead you to pride. No think say you fit ever reach stage wey you no need to meditate on our Lord’s life again. Meditate, think deeply, reflect, and discover Who E be. Do am again and again. If God want draw you enter deeper prayer, allow Am. But no take am for granted say E go do so. Even the greatest saints receive the call to return to the simplest forms of prayer every day. Na the same call you too receive.

Holy Human Nature of Christ, make I always adore You, love You and return to You every day. Make I no ever tire to meditate on You. I pray make I fit always keep You for my mind, look steadily at You with love and follow Your footsteps. Holy Human Nature of Christ, I love You. Help me to love You more every day.

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

Lesson Sixty-Seven: To Know Deeply How Sin Be

For these places wey soul dey dwell, the soul dey receive plenty favours. The highest graces wey God dey give come through encounter wey dey more direct with wetin God be for His very being, without using human reasoning or imagination. The best way to understand these many different kinds of grace na to pay attention to the effects wey dem dey produce.

I only wish to teach una (as far as I myself know them) the different favours wey God dey show soul for this state, so that una go fit understand wetin mark each one and the effects wey dem dey produce (VI.X #1).

One grace wey God dey give here na deep understanding of sin. When person first repent of im sin for the earlier places wey soul dey dwell, na only small glimpse of im sin e dey get, and this small glimpse dey enough to help am seek God’s mercy and forgiveness, and e dey do so. But for the earlier places wey soul dey dwell, the soul never strong enough to see im sin as God dey see am. So, for these sixth places wey soul dey dwell, God dey give the soul a vision of wetin He be for His very being, no be through images but directly, for one mysterious way. This powerful way wey God dey make Himself known, wey dey come as one very high vision through the intellect, dey reveal wetin God be for His very essence, His very being, and e dey completely overwhelm the person, so that e fit see im soul and im sins as God dey see them.

This high vision through the intellect of the truth of God’s complete love and goodness, together with the truth of the soul’s wretched condition, dey teach the soul say “all human beings na liars.” All people dey trapped inside lies. Wetin we dey call truth na only imagination. Na only through this new vision of wetin God be for His very being the soul dey begin understand say the sorrow wey e get before for sin no sufficient at all.

The gifts of wisdom and understanding wey God dey give the soul dey so deep that, through this new knowledge of itself and of God, the soul dey receive humility for one new level. Because this humility don reach the deepest part of im being, the soul don dey free to love for one completely new level. E dey begin love with the love wey dey the very depths of God’s Heart. Just as God don show us pure mercy, na so the soul dey begin show God’s pure mercy to others. Na this mercy wey reach deep inside person soul dey become the immediate preparation for the gift of Spiritual Marriage wey dey for the seventh place wey soul dey dwell.

Reflection: Imagine say you understand your soul with di mind of God. Wetin God dey see when He look you? First of all, He dey look you with perfect mercy. Nobody fit ever understand His love finish. But as He dey look you with perfect mercy, He still dey see every sin wey dey inside you; He dey see di disorder wey your sin and your fallen human nature don cause; He dey see your soul exactly as e be, and He love you despite wetin He dey see.

You know say you no go ever know yourself or understand your sin until you begin get di mind of God? Pray for dis gift. Pray for di spiritual gifts of wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Pray make God mind fill your mind completely, and make His thoughts transform your thoughts. Dis kind gift no be wetin person fit take by imself; na only receive person fit receive am, and God go give am only when He choose to give am. Continue to open yourself to God, so you go dey more and more ready to receive wetin He deeply desire to give you.

God of perfect Wisdom, You know everything and You dey see everything. You know me inside out. Di way You know me pass di way I know myself by measure wey no get end. Abeg, open my mind to You more fully, so I go fit know my soul as You know am. Help me see my sin more clearly, and see di mercy wey dey wash am comot. As I dey do dis, I pray make Your gift of humility grow deeper inside me, so I go dey thank You more and more for everything.

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

Lesson Sixty-Eight: Di Arrow of Love

Saint Teresa conclude di sixth places wey soul dey dwell by describing one last powerful experience wey di soul dey receive when God reveal His very essence for di deepest centre of di soul being.

As love dey set di soul on fire like dis, e dey often happen say, because of one thought wey just pass through di mind or one word wey person talk about how death dey delay to come, di heart receive one blow—e no know how or where di blow come from—as if na arrow of fire…for di very depth and centre of di soul, where dis lightning strike, as e dey move with speed, grind every earthly part of our nature to powder. For dat time, we no fit even remember say we dey exist, because, within one instant, di powers of di soul dey so tied down dat dem no fit do anything, apart from di power wey dem still get to increase our torment. No think say I dey exaggerate; in fact, my explanation no even reach wetin dey happen, because words no fit describe am (VI.XI #2).

Dis spiritual communication from God no dey last pass a few hours. Sometimes, na only fifteen minutes e dey last, because di soul no fit endure am any longer. But di experience dey so deep dat e dey affect every part of di body for days after. All di joints for di body dey completely shift comot from where dem suppose dey, yet no be for di body person dey feel di pain; na only for di spirit, wey fit suffer far more, person dey feel am. Words no fit describe di torment, but di spiritual benefits wey dis arrow of fire dey bring far pass any pain wey person experience. E be like ocean when you compare am with just one drop of water.

One of di spiritual torments na loneliness wey come because di soul don completely detach from everything for dis world, but e never fit fully enter di next world. E be as if di soul dey hang between di two worlds, without fully belonging to any of dem, but dey one state wey e never reach here or there, as e dey long to die completely and enter fully into God Himself. Even though di torments strong well-well, dem dey serve di glorious purpose of preparing di soul to enter di seventh place wey soul dey dwell, where e go enter divine marriage and bring im union with God to fullness.

After di soul receive dis vision through di mind, together with di spiritual torments wey follow am, God dey give another grace when di right time reach. Na consolation wey powerful so tey e dey mix with di torments and help di soul endure dem for di rest of im life. With dat consolation, di soul go gladly suffer for a thousand lifetimes or more, if na wetin God want. Na dis final graces don now prepare di soul for di final place wey e go dwell.

Reflection: If you don ever experience dis “arrow of fire” from God, then you go likely agree with Saint Teresa say nobody fit ever explain di experience. Even though na only few people fit ever experience dis, know say e dey possible. Dis gift wey dey give di final preparation for di Spiritual Marriage of di seventh place wey soul dey dwell no be wetin you no fit receive. Na true say e fit only come as gift from God, but know say God deeply desire to give am.

Ponder dis truth: God want make you holy. He want make you become saint. Still ponder say e dey possible to reach dis depth of holiness. E dey possible to allow God possess your soul completely, transform you, and make you one with Him. You believe dis?

Plenty times, we dey live our life dey think say to become perfect na wetin we no fit achieve. With only our own power, we truly no fit achieve am. But for God, everything dey possible. Believe this. Think deep about this truth. Accept am and give yourself fully to this journey. Pray for the gift of this arrow of fire inside the very centre of your soul, and no ever stop to dey seek God until you don fully ready to receive this gift and, through am, enter the Spiritual Marriage wey dey for the seventh place to stay.

Lord wey all holiness belong to, na You be Perfection. Na You be Holiness. Na You be God wey no get limit, God of everything. Abeg, draw me fully into Your divine presence. Free me from every sin. Heal me from every fault. Make Your love take over my whole being. I pray make I no ever tire for this journey to You, so that I go live with You for the place wey dey deepest inside my soul.

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

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