Continuing my journey as an MV, I ask the Lord where am I in my discernment, where am I spiritually, and how is my relationship with Him. I desire to know more and more about Him. After the first few moments reading Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila, I could not help but smile to see exactly where I am in my journey.
THIRD MANSIONS. The description of these Manions of Exemplary Life beings with stern exhortations on the dangers of trusting to one’s own strength and to the virtues one has already acquired, which must still of necessity be very weak. Yet, although the soul which reaches the Third Mansions may still fall back, it has attained a high standard of virtue. Controlled by discipline and penance and disposed to performing acts of charity toward others, it has acquired prudence and discretion and orders its life well. Its limitations are those of vision: it has not yet experienced to the full inspiring force of love. It has not made a full self-oblation, a total self-surrender. Its love is still governed by reason, and so its progress is slow. It suffers from aridity, and is given only occasional glimpses into the Mansions beyond.
The first thing to humble me is that passing through these Mansions is not a race, but another reason to come closer to Him. If my faith in Him is weak then it is my call to have stronger faith through my relationships. If I have not fully surrendered then I must learn to trust and have more hope. If I continue to sin then I must stay away from these temptations. If I have not experienced a full force of love, then it probably means that I haven’t loved my neighbour as myself. These are such perfect goals for my year and to help me with my discernment. I ask for your prayers to help me reach these goals.
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