"These souls realize that they wouldn't commit a sin for anything - many wouldn't even advertently commit a venial sin - and they conduct their lives well (yet) they cannot accept patiently that the door of entry to the place where our King dwells be closed to them."
These people become concerned at their lack of progress in prayer and often become disconsolate if their prayer is dry for long periods. St Teresa says of these people:
"I cannot help but think that anyone who makes such an issue of this dryness is a little lacking in humility."
Authentic teresian humility demands a radical detachment. The soul should persevere in prayer for love of God alone, and should leave behind any desire for rewards, gifts and consolations from God.
"But this perseverance includes the condition that you consider yourselves useless servants and believe that you have not put our Lord under any obligation to grant you favours."
"The Lord will give you understanding so that out of dryness you may draw humility - and not disquiet. Be convinced that where humility is truly present God will give peace and conformity - even though He may never give consolations - by which one will walk with greater contentment than will others with their consolations."
"with humility present, this stage is a most excellent one. If humility is lacking, we will remain here our whole life - and with a thousand afflictions and miseries."
The humility necessary for union is a virtue which focuses the soul so totally on God that it is without thought or concern for itself. This requires radical detachment which is made possible by a strong desire focusing the soul's activities (that is to say love) on God.
Greg Homeming ocd
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