IMAGES FROM THE WRITINGS OF ST.

TERESA OF AVILA
ABOUT GROWTH IN THE LIFE OF PRAYER

I. Two images of the spiritual journey (i) ways of bring water to a field representing the
relationship between grace, human effort, and gift of contemplative prayer and the (ii) Interior
Castle representing progress to higher levels of prayer and contemplation.

A. First Water: drawing the water up from a well by the use of a bucket.

First, Second, Third Mansions. The effort one spends leaving behind sin and growing
in virtue In the First Mansion there is a leaving behind of sin and attachments. In the Second
Mansions there is a time of interior struggle between the way of Christ and to leave behind sin.
St. Teresa’s practical advice: (i) building of Christ-centered friendship, (ii) generous willingness
to embrace the Cross, (iii) daily fidelity to the Divine will. In the Third Mansions through the
assistance of God’s grace the attainment of a high standard of virtue, freedom through self-
discipline and penance, and disposition to perform acts of charity

B. Second Water: use of a water wheel and aqueduct

Fourth Mansions The gift of Infused Contemplation with the transformative results of
this prayer: In this mansion there is (i) infused recollection, union of the intellect with God and
(ii) the prayer of quiet, union of the will with God-- which learning to be receptive to the action
of God. Practical advice of St. Teresa: habitual practice of prayer, detachment, seeking solitude
without neglecting personal responsibilities to others.

C. Third Water: effluence from a river or stream so that one no longer labors to
transport the water to the field

Fifth Mansions: full union with God. The person is introduced to spiritual betrothal with
a certain experiential knowledge of the Divine Presence

D. Fourth Water: gentle and abundant rainfall. The water for the field is simply
received without any effort.

Sixth Mansions spiritual betrothal with profound and transforming effects of God’s
grace with an intense awareness of the Divine Presence, consciousness and speech totally
centered in God, ardent and longing desires for solitude combined with the desire of apostolic
mission to others.;

Seventh Mansions: spiritual marriage: this is transforming union with a continuous

awareness of loving knowledge of the presence of the Trinity

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 Mystical Prayer (or properly called) Contemplative
Prayer

Prayer of Transforming Union (7th Mansion)

Prayer of Ecstatic Union (6th Mansion)

Prayer of Union (5th Mansion)

Prayer of Simplicity (4th Mansion)

Prayer of Quiet union of the will with God

Infused Recollection: union of intellect with God

Ascetical Prayer (First Three Mansions)

Meditation

Intercession

Vocal Prayer

I. ASCETICAL PRAYER First Three Mansions

Discursive Meditation: a reasoned application of the mind to some supernatural truth.

Affective Prayer: A way of meditation in which the operations of the will predominate over the
active reflections of the intellect which is found in the ways of meditation spoken about above.
This is a meditation in which the “heart” predominates. It is a natural transition from discursive
meditation to affective prayer

PRAYER OF SIMPLICITY (transitional stage) Fourth Mansion

This is the transition point between ascetical prayer (which is our cooperation with the gift of the
Holy Spirit: vocal prayer, meditation, affective prayer) and mystical prayer: contemplation.

INFUSED RECOLLECTION: union of the intellect with God A type of contemplative prayer
in which the intellect is united with God especially through the gifts of the Holy Spirit of
understanding, knowledge and counsel

PRAYER OF QUIET A type of contemplative prayer in which the will is especially joined to
God with an increase in contemplative light and more intense spiritual consolations.

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II. CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER Final Three Mansions This gift of prayer involves a
loving experiential knowledge of God. A profound expression of faith and charity and the Gifts
of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.

PRAYER OF UNION ( FIFTH MANSION) A type of contemplative prayer in which all of the
interior faculties (intellect, will, memory, and imagination are absorbed in loving union with
God.

PRAYER OF ECSTATIC UNION (SIXTH MANSION) A type of contemplative prayer often

terminating in the spiritual espousal. In addition to the absorption of the faculties of the soul
(intellect, memory, and will) and the internal senses are united to God, in this type of
contemplative prayer the external senses are also suspended.

PRAYER OF TRANSFORMING UNION (SEVENTH MANSION( This way of contemplative

prayer is also known as the mystical marriage. It constitutes the seventh mansions of the Interior
Castle

This manner of contemplative prayer is the most profound and intense experience of divine love
possible in this life.

This summary is taken from

Dubay, Thomas S.M., Fire Within: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel
On Prayer. San Francisco: St. Ignatius Press, 1989.

The reader is invited to especially consult Chapter VI, “The Teresian Mansions”