22. She shows how safe a path it is for contemplatives not to raise their spirits to lofty things

[John]

22. She shows how safe a path it is for contemplatives not to raise their spirits to lofty things, and how the approach to the most exalted contemplation must be by way of Christ’ humanity. She tells of an incident in which she was herself deceived. This is a very profitable chapter

[Sheila]

St T discloses a great insight: the close connection between fruitful prayer and humility.

[Jill]

I like very much her comment, "I do not contradict this view..." but (I'm paraphrasing) here's what happened to me. Experience is more convincing than theory!

[John]

"God leads souls along many roads and paths, as He has led mine." Again, and again, and again, St. Teresa puts her finger on my sin - so often I look at others and judge because they walk a different way than I do, but in my limited understanding I need to remember that God calls each of us in the way he wants us to walk, and if I walk differently than my brother or sister it may be me that has wandered off the path.

"I clearly see, and have done so ever since, that if we are to please God and He is to grant us great favours, it is His will that this should be through His most sacred Humanity, in whom His Majesty said He is well pleased." [Jill, I think this supports your point about physical life and the Incarnation.]

"While we live as human beings, it is very important for us to keep Christ’s Humanity before us."

"Others may, as I have said, find another and shorter cut; hut what I have learnt is that the entire edifice of prayer must he founded on humility, and that the lower a soul abases itself in prayer, the higher God raises it."

"God is more careful for us than we are for ourselves, and He knows what each of us is good for."

"whenever we think of Christ, we should remember the love with which He has bestowed all these favours on us, and what great love our Lord God has revealed to us also in giving us this pledge of His love for us, for love calls out love."