What follows the Night of the Soul?
As Teresa of Avila observed, few, even of the devout, seem to enter this Night. For one who has entered the Night, there is no prognosis anyone can give on how long this period of purification will last. God will act as God will act, but always for the good of the soul.
The highest state that can be achieved in this life is “spiritual marriage,” also known as “transforming union.” According to Teresa of Avila, this state is distinguished by three characteristics: intimacy with God, serenity and indissolubility or permanence.
The soul is so intimate with God that God’s life and the soul’s life are as one. Teresa likens the intimacy with rain water from heaven mixing with spring water on earth such that one cannot tell which is rain water and which is spring water. As much as any created being can on this earth, the soul shares in the life of God.
The serenity or peace that the soul experiences is that of a happily married person who is certain of the love of her spouse. A soul in the state of transforming union is no longer subject to the trials of the Nights. The soul has effectively forgotten itself and lives only in God.
Obviously, if there are few who reach the Night of the Soul, there are fewer still who are blessed with Transforming Union, but it is a state to which every soul should aspire since it is as close to our final goal of union with God as any soul can reach on earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment