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Brookline Carmel Bulletin J M J T
November 1, 1959
Cogitatio Sancta
(Holy
Meditation)
Prayer to the Trinity
Within the Soul
In a previous article, we discussed prayer in relation to Our Lord in
the Blessed Sacrament. The presence of
the Blessed Sacrament is an ideal atmosphere for prayer. Yet we cannot continuously enjoy this
presence. It is important, therefore,
to be able to find God easily at all times, regardless of where we are or in
what occupation we are engaged. The
spirituality of Teresian Carmel, stressing prayer as it does, has always placed
strong emphasis on the doctrine of the Divine indwelling. It is a matter of faith that God dwells by
grace in the soul that is in the state of grace.
The teaching of the Church is clear from various official
pronouncements, e.g., the words of Leo XIII, “God dwells by grace in the
soul of the just man as in a temple, in a very intimate and singular manner.” He then
cites the words of Our Lord Himself (John 14:23), “If any one love me,
he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and
take up our abode with him.” St. Paul echoed this doctrine with his
famous question (I Cor. 3:16), “Do you not know that you are the temple
of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” and again with his declaration (II Cor.
6:16), “You are the temple of the living God.” St. Augustine, in his time,
was to confess, “I found Thee not, O Lord, without, because I erred in
seeking Thee without that wert within.” And St. John of the Cross, many centuries
later, asserted: “God then is
hidden within the soul, and there the good contemplative must seek Him with
love.”
How the three Divine Persons dwell within the soul is a mystery that
exceeds our powers of human understanding.
The fact remains, however, that They are present not in the ordinary way
in which God is in all things by His power, inasmuch as all things are subject
to Him; by His presence, inasmuch as all things are known to Him; by His
essence, inasmuch as He creates and sustains all things; but in a new and
special way, which we call divine indwelling or inhabitation. The moment sanctifying grace is infused into
a soul; God begins to dwell in it in this special way.
It is fitting that our prayer life should center about this presence of
God within our souls. Here we can
address ourselves to the Father as our Creator, to the Son as our Redeemer, to
the Holy Spirit as our Sanctifier and Advocate. St. Teresa speaks of this manner of prayer in her Way of
Perfection (chap. 28): “Remember
how Saint Augustine tells us about his seeking God in many places and
eventually finding him within himself.
Do you suppose it is of little importance that a soul which is often
distracted should come to understand this truth and to find that, in order to
speak to its Eternal Father and to take its delight in Him, it has no need to
go to Heaven?… We need no wings to go in search of Him, but have only to find a
place where we can be alone and look upon Him present within us.” Elsewhere
she writes: “I once had such
great light from that presence of the Three Persons Whom I bear in my soul that
it was impossible for me to doubt that the true and living God was present, and
I then came to understand things which I shall never be able to describe.” The classic
text from the beginning of the Spiritual Canticle shows the deep
appreciation St. John of the Cross had of this same mystery. “Come, then, thou soul, most
beautiful of all creatures, that so greatly desirest to know the place where
thy Beloved is, in order to seek Him and be united with Him; …thou thyself art
the lodging wherein He dwells, and the chamber and hiding-place wherein he is
hidden…What more desirest thou, O soul, and what more seekest thou without
thyself, since within thyself thou hast thy riches, thy delight, thy
satisfaction, thy fullness and thy kingdom, which is thy Beloved, Whom thy soul
desires and seeks? Rejoice thou and be
glad in thy inward recollection with Him, since thou hast Him so near…” Sister
Elizabeth of the Trinity, whose life was spent in contemplating the beauty of
this mystery, exclaimed: “It
seems to me that I have found my heaven on earth, for heaven is God, and God is
in my soul…May He make of your soul a little heaven in which He can rest
happily. Remove from it all that could
offend His divine gaze. Live with
Him. Remain constantly with Him. Enter into the interior of your soul; you will
always find Him there, longing to do great things for you.”
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