Capítulo 23. Trata de lo que importa no tornar atrás quien ha comenzado camino de oración, y torna a hablar de lo mucho que va en que sea con determinación.
The Gift of Total Determination
Teresa urges the sisters to offer their time in prayer to God with complete resolve, viewing it as a non-retractable gift of love rather than a temporary loan.
I say that it really matters to start with great determination, for so many reasons that it would take a long time to explain them all. I want to tell you, sisters, just two or three things: the first is that it doesn’t make sense to not give to someone who has given us so much and continues to give, something we want to determine to give to Him, which is this little care (not), certainly, without any interest, but with such great gains; we should give it with full determination, not as if we were lending something to take back. It doesn’t seem right to me to give, since there’s always some displeasure left for someone who has lent something when they take it back, especially if they need it and had it as if it were their own, or if they are friends and the one who lent it has given many things without any interest: it would seem reasonable to feel that it’s a small thing and very little love if they don’t even want to leave a little thing of theirs in their power, even as a sign of love. What wife, having received many valuable gifts from her husband, wouldn't give him at least a ring—not for its worth, since everything is already his, but as a token that will be hers until she dies? So what less does this Lord deserve, that we should mock Him by giving and then taking back something so trivial? Instead, let this little bit of time that we decide to give Him from what we spend on ourselves—especially since He won’t thank us for it—be offered freely, with our minds undistracted by other things, and with the firm determination that we will never take it back, regardless of the troubles that may come our way, nor by contradictions or dryness; rather, let it be as something not mine, so that time can be His, and let us think that it can be asked of us justly when we don’t want to give it entirely. I call it 'completely', because it’s not understood that leaving it for some day, or for a few days, due to legitimate occupations or any indisposition, is already taking it back. Let your intention be firm, for my God, it’s nothing delicate: He doesn’t concern Himself with trifles. This way, He will have something to thank you for; you are actually giving Him something. As for the rest, it might be fine for someone who isn't generous—someone so tightfisted that he lacks the heart to give—for it's enough that he at least lends. In short, do something, because this Lord of ours takes everything into account; He acts according to our desires. That He takes us into account is no small thing, but a sign of His generosity; no matter how serious the matter, He thinks little of forgiving. He is so thoughtful in rewarding us that you shouldn't fear that even a single glance upward, remembering Him, will go unrewarded.
Resisting the Enemy Through Resolve
A firm and determined soul acts as a powerful deterrent against the devil, who preys upon the fickle and the careless.
Another reason is that the devil doesn't have as much power to tempt. He has great fear of determined souls, for those who have experience can cause him great harm, and whatever he plans to harm them only benefits himself and others, and he ends up suffering loss. We shouldn't be careless or overconfident, because we are dealing with a treacherous enemy. He is a coward and won't dare to attack those who are alert, but if he sees any carelessness, he will cause great harm. And if he knows someone to be fickle and not firm in good and with great determination to persevere, he won't leave them alone or in shadow. He will put fears and obstacles in their way so that they never finish. I know this very well from experience, and I have learned to say—and I do say—that no one realizes how much it matters.
The Certainty of Divine Reward
Teresa encourages the sisters to fight with the confidence of victory, reminding them that God never fails to reward those who seek Him.
The other thing—and this matters a lot—is that he fights with more determination. He knows that whatever happens, he won't turn back. It's like a soldier in battle who knows that if he's defeated, his life won't be spared, and that if he doesn't die in the fight, he'll die later anyway. He fights with more determination and wants to sell his life dearly, as they say. He doesn't fear the blows as much because he's focused on what matters: victory, knowing that his life depends on winning. It's also necessary to start with the assurance that if we don't let ourselves be defeated, we'll succeed in our endeavor. This is certain, because even if they gain little, they'll come out very rich. Don't be afraid that the Lord will let you die of thirst when He calls us to drink from this fountain. This has already been said, and I'd like to repeat it many times because it greatly intimidates people who don't yet fully know the goodness of the Lord through experience, even though they know Him by faith. But it is a great thing to have experienced the friendship and gift that pertains to those who walk this path, and how it almost covers all the cost. I don't understand why those who haven't experienced this still look for assurance of some benefit. You already know that it's a hundredfold, even in this life, and that the Lord says, 'Ask and it will be given to you.' If you don't believe His Majesty in the parts of His Gospel that assure this, it does little good, sisters, for me to break my head trying to explain it. Still, I say that anyone who has any doubt loses little by trying it; that's the good thing about this journey, that you receive more than you ask for, and we won't even know how to desire it. This is certain; I know it. And for those of you who know it by experience, through the goodness of God, I can call you as witnesses.
Read the original Latin
Pues digo que va muy mucho en comenzar con gran determinación, por tantas causas que sería alargarme mucho si las dijese. Solas dos o tres os quiero, hermanas, decir: La una es que no es razón que a quien tanto nos ha dado y continuo da, que una cosa que nos queremos determinar a darle, que es este cuidadito (no,) cierto, sin interés, sino con tan grandes ganancias), no se lo dar con toda determinación sino como quien presta una cosa para tornarla a tomar. Esto no me parece a mí dar, antes siempre queda con algún disgusto a quien han emprestado una cosa cuando se la tornan a tomar, en especial si la ha menester y la tenía ya como por suya, o que si son amigos y a quien la prestó debe muchas dadas sin ningún interés: con razón le parecerá poquedad y muy poco amor, que aun una cosita suya no quiere dejar en su poder, siquiera por señal de amor.
¿Qué esposa hay que recibiendo muchas joyas de valor de su esposo no le dé siquiera una sortija, no por lo que vale, que ya todo es suyo, sino por prenda que será suya hasta que muera? Pues ¿qué menos merece este Señor, para que burlemos de él, dando y tomando una nonada que le damos? Sino que este poquito de tiempo que nos determinamos de darle de cuanto gastamos en nosotros mismos y en quien no nos lo agradecerá, ya que aquel rato le queremos dar, démosle libre el pensamiento y desocupado de otras cosas, y con toda determinación de nunca jamás se le tornar a tomar, por trabajos que por ello nos vengan, ni por contradicciones ni por sequedades; sino que ya como cosa no mía tenga aquel tiempo y piense me le pueden pedir por justicia cuando del todo no se le quisiere dar.
Llamo «del todo», porque no se entiende que dejarlo algún día, o algunos, por ocupaciones justas o por cualquier indisposición, es tomársele ya. La intención esté firme, que no es nada delicado mi Dios: no mira en menudencias. Así tendrá qué os agradecer; es dar algo. Lo demás, bueno es a quien no es franco, sino tan apretado que no tiene corazón para dar; harto es que preste. En fin, haga algo, que todo lo toma en cuenta este Señor nuestro; a todo hace como lo queremos. Para tomarnos cuenta no es nada menudo, sino generoso; por grande que sea el alcance, tiene El en poco perdonarle. Para pagarnos es tan mirado, que no hayáis miedo que un alzar de ojos con acordarnos de El deje sin premio.
Otra causa es porque el demonio no tiene tanta mano para tentar. Ha gran miedo a ánimas determinadas, que tiene ya experiencia le hacen gran daño, y cuanto él ordena para dañarlas, viene en provecho suyo y de los otros y que sale él con pérdida. Y ya que no hemos nosotros de estar descuidados ni confiar en esto, porque lo habemos con gente traidora, y a los apercibidos no osan tanto acometer, porque es muy cobarde; mas si viese descuido, haría gran daño. Y si conoce a uno por mudable y que no está firme en el bien y con gran determinación de perseverar, no le dejará a sol ni a sombra. Miedos le pondrá e inconvenientes que nunca acabe. Yo lo sé esto muy bien por experiencia, y así lo he sabido decir, y digo que no sabe nadie lo mucho que importa.
La otra cosa es -y que hace mucho al caso- que pelea con más ánimo. Ya sabe que, venga lo que viniere, no ha de tornar atrás. Es como uno que está en una batalla, que sabe, si le vencen, no le perdonarán la vida, y que ya que no muere en la batalla ha de morir después; pelea con más determinación y quiere vender bien su vida -como dicen- y no teme tanto los golpes, porque lleva adelante lo que le importa la victoria y que le va la vida en vencer. Es también necesario comenzar con seguridad de que, si no nos dejamos vencer, saldremos con la empresa; esto sin ninguna duda, que por poca ganancia que saquen, saldrán muy ricos. No hayáis miedo os deje morir de sed el Señor que nos llama a que bebamos de esta fuente. Esto queda ya dicho, y querríalo decir muchas veces, porque acobarda mucho a personas que aún no conocen del todo la bondad del Señor por experiencia, aunque le conocen por fe. Mas es gran cosa haber experimentado con la amistad y regalo que trata a los que van por este camino, y cómo casi les hace toda la costa.
Los que esto no han probado, no me maravillo quieran seguridad de algún interés. Pues ya sabéis que es ciento por uno, aun en esta vida, y que dice el Señor: «Pedid y daros han». Si no creéis a Su Majestad en las partes de su Evangelio que asegura esto, poco aprovecha, hermanas, que me quiebre yo la cabeza a decirlo. Todavía digo que a quien tuviere alguna duda, que poco se pierde en probarlo; que eso tiene bueno este viaje, que se da más de lo que se pide ni acertaremos a desear. Esto es sin falta, yo lo sé. Y a las de vosotras que lo sabéis por experiencia, por la bondad de Dios, puedo presentar por testigos.
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