Revelations of Saint Teresa of Avila: “Do you think, my daughter, that merit consists in enjoying? No, but in working, suffering, and loving”

Source: archive.org

Saint Teresa of Avila (d. 1582):

“Our Lord said to me one day: Do you think, my daughter, that merit consists in enjoying? No, but in working, suffering, and loving. You have nowhere seen that Saint Paul tasted heavenly delights more than once, while he very often had to suffer.

Consider my life as well; it was nothing but suffering, and you find only one hour of happiness in it, that of Tabor. Do not think, when you contemplate my Mother holding me in her arms, that such sweet joys were free from cruel martyrdom: as soon as she heard Simeon’s words, my Father enlightened her to show her all that I would have to suffer.

Those great Saints, who spent their lives in the desert, guided as they were by the Spirit of God, subjected themselves to very austere penances; moreover, they endured great struggles against the devil and against themselves, and sometimes went for a very long time without any spiritual consolation. Believe it, my daughter, the souls most cherished by My Father are those to whom He sends the greatest trials; and the greatness of these trials is the measure of His love.

How could I better show you mine than by choosing for you what I chose for myself? Look at these wounds; your sufferings will never reach this far. This is the path of truth. When you have understood it well, you will help me weep over the loss of those slaves of the world whose every desire, every concern, and every thought tend toward a completely opposite end.”