2. How she came gradually to lose these virtues

[John]

2. How she came gradually to lose these virtues, and of the importance of associating in childhood with good people

[John]

"This habit of ours so annoyed my father that we had to take care he never saw us with our books. But I began to become addicted to this reading, and this little fault, which I had observed in my mother, began to chill my desires and to lead me astray in other respects as well. It did not seem wicked to me to waste many hours of the day"

Reading a waste of time? Say it ain't so! I have no doubt she would take a very dim view of popular entertainment today. More seriously, obviously reading spiritual books isn't sinful, but is there some sin associated with reading secular novels? A stunning percentage of them are trashy these days. I also suspect St. Teresa's chivalrous tales were quite mild compared to modern romances.

[John]

"But I did not see that I could conceal nothing from Him who sees all things. O my God, what evil is done in the world by forgetfulness of this, and in the belief that anything done against You can be concealed! I am certain that great evils could be avoided if we could understand that our business is not to be on our guard against men but against displeasing You."

[Jill]

Is there a topic for chapter 3? (Sorry, I find it very hard to navigate on this site...) I was struck there by her inability to weep even on reading the entire Passion. Hard-hearted, I guess that's me too. Or at least unemotional.
In this first convent, she seems to suffer from an excessive desire to please others. She thinks it's "safer" to be a nun, a common view in former generations but surely not true. No state is free from temptations from self and Satan!

[John]

I agree that no state is easy, but I think the "safest" is to dedicate yourself to the state to which you are called.