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Recollection: the first two "stations" and the first water

The first step in prayer is perhaps a bit 'more difficult ... It is' recollection' , which is a way to keep your mind occupied on a single object, to avoid their disappearance as usually does. The object, designated by Teresa, is actually more than one, but these can be reduced to three or four largest.

1. the first place we can put the more traditional one for a Christian, which is the meditation, that the careful observation of an important episode of Scripture, such as the passion of Christ.
2. Another is reading a book, pausing from time to time on something that will attract attention in a particular way;
3. Another meditation for its own lack or difficulty
4. A more in the contemplation of nature. "For me it was enough also the view of fields, water and flowers " 3

However, since we know that these are characterized by early effort, we think that we should exercise a great deal of will to maintain ' focused attention on the object chosen as much as possible. Choosing a metaphor that is dear, Teresa says that at the beginning of the street is like a gardener who painstakingly draws water from the well to water the garden.

At this stage there are comments directed at beginners, they deserve the keenness with which they are made, with due attention. In particular, it signaled the importance of do everything with lightness and joy, without trying to stifle their desires, even when they are simple and very human desire to succeed in the journey undertaken. 4

The recommendation not to rely uncritically to the gurus (" now so rare and so few in number ") That five of her own that relies totally on some of them, highlights the fact that his enthusiasm was never separated from a secure ability to judge. He warned in particular against those who, being unnecessarily cautious too, obstructed the path of the followers, forcing them to follow the usual forms of practice, when they were ready to move to higher forms. Finally, they deserve to be remembered for their universal opportunity, three recommendations:

1. The first is that he does not believe that is conducive to meditation have all that may seem necessary, in terms of silence or suitable environment, under the pretext that the treatment time disturb prayer.
2. The second, notable for his nonconformity, expressing distrust of certain impulses common to beginners: " when I did not know how to correct myself, I greatly wished to do good to others! The temptation is very common for beginners and that I could very well . As soon as he began to enjoy the peace and benefits of prayer, we want everyone to do spiritual ". 6
3. The third, of the same gender, the concern about the shortcomings of others "( sometimes) the distress is so vivid that prevents to pray with the addition also believe, for our most damage, that this is virtue, perfection and love of God ... The safest for the soul that begins to pray is to forget everything and not wait for all to herself and to please the Lord ". 7 Teresa seems to mean by this that the interest for the good of others is not the result of the enthusiasm of a beginner, but a result of a serious work on yourself (that means without undue effort, however, other features for beginners) . 8

For simplicity, I omit the details surrounding some distinctions in this first phase of the gradual concentration. Teresa divided into three levels, where you can examine different forms of the first difficulty, as the temptation to give up el'aridità interior, even when it seems that the efforts have no effect whatsoever and the beginner will feel depressed and lost. These different stages are called, in the Interior Castle, the term English moradas, that is stopping or stages, in the most recent Italian edition is firmly established the use of call 'work', from the Latin of the Gospel of John (14, 2), expression of feeling rather doubtful in Italian, which threatens the misunderstanding. So I think it would be better translated as 'stations', using the term which usually translates into the expression analogy used in Sufism, Muslim mysticism, which could not be completely foreign to Teresa, if only for reasons of geographical contiguity and the environment (the kingdom of Granada had fallen only 23 years before she was born).


NOTES 1. S. Teresa of Avila, Collected Works, Rome, Postulation general OCD, 1997, pp. 956s.
2. Ib., Pp. 50, 53.
3. Ib., P. 102.
4. Ib., P. 128.
5. Ib., P. 129.
6. Ib., Pp. 84, 131.
7. Ib., P. 133.
8 .. Ib., P. 121.