The Book of Privy Counsel: Session Two
Chapter 10
The union between God and the human soul in consummate love is so “sublime that it surpasses our human understanding.” This union is spiritual perfection as it can be experienced on Earth. This union is not graspable with the senses, the memory, intellect, or will. In contemplative prayer you learn how to “reject and forget the world.”
Chapter 11
Then learn how to forget your Self. That is, you abandon your separate self sense as you dissolve into union with God.
Before we go any further the author reminds us that contemplation is a gift that only comes by way of grace.
This whole time, writes the author, I’ve been building to this point: “Forget yourself entirely in exchange for a complete awareness of God’s being.”
The author has been leading us gradually up a set of steps into awareness of God’s being:
First “gnaw on the simple blind awareness of your own being for a time.”
After some experience in self-reflection, then feel out where God is in this work
After gaining more experience, “you’ll undress yourself - strip - completely take off our self-awareness.”
“Be clothed with the grace-filled awareness of God himself.”
Strip yourself of all possessions, even separate-self sense, to gain God forever, everlasting love.
When you become aware of self during the period of the prayer, grieve and let go.
“I am not saying you should wish to un-be.”
There was a time when various characteristics of yourself presented themselves as obstacles to your simple self awareness, not your sense of self presses down on you getting between you and God.
The burden of self is huge.
Chapter 12
Neither you nor God are the things that either of you has done.
“The interior life is a wonderful home for us.” Jesus by his divinity is the doorkeeper, and by his humanity he is the door. He became human in order to make himself and the gift of contemplation accessible to all.
Chapter 13
Once you find the door that is Christ you’ll wonder what to do. Go barging in? No, wait. The Spirit will guide you. Be faithful to your practice of contemplative prayer and God will be faithful to you through your practice calling you deeper and deeper into union when the time is right.
Some are called to salvation, the simple life of following Jesus, but not spiritual perfection which is union with God in love during the course of life. Don’t judge yourself or anyone else either way. All is well.
“Everyone has a unique calling and it is none of your business what God calls others to do.” Comparing yourself with others will only slow you down and get you off track.
Chapter 14
In contemplation set thinking aside and remember that God is the one in charge in this work.
God partners with us in daily living - the active life. He affirms our deeds by three “witnesses” - Scripture, wise counsel, and common sense. Don’t forget to use these three tools to check yourself in your daily life and in ordinary activities.
In the contemplative life God stirs our souls with grace.
There are 3 types of people:
Sinners - whose behavior God permits but does not support
Actives - whose good day to day work God allows and supports
Contemplatives - for whom God is the “principal inspiration and power.”
Chapter 15
You will know that you are called to draw nearer to God in the contemplative life if you feel your desire for God growing as you continue your daily devotion to the period of prayer. If the joy you feel at contemplative prayer won’t leave you alone you are called to the contemplative path.
Chapter 16
The joy you feel is pure freedom from worry and upset. It is nothing, so when you find someone you can talk to about it there are no words. You are speechless. Contemplation is a vivid awareness of your own infinite source that strikes you beyond the horizon of sensory acquisition. You can’t feel it, taste it, smell it, touch it, see it…the joy is no-thing.
This chapter contains a description of the contemplative and the joy that is nothing.
Though she has few words they are gentle, deep, and warm
Self esteem is pure
Speech is mature and wise
Silence is gentle
Prayers private
Behavior humble
Humor kind
Joys as simple as a child at play
Love to be by yourself and sit alone
Only interested in reading about the joys of contemplation
If you have all of that and lose it. Don’t worry. Wait patiently. Learn humility. This is the dark night. God will come for you. Don’t get upset.
God’s comings and goings will stretch and teach you.
Your joy, enthusiasm, and desire may wane and leave you, but God’s grace will never leave you.
Chapter 17
Comforting emotions from or about God are not God. When you have these good feelings your joy helps you grow. When they are gone you learn patience. Both are your helpful teachers.
“You learn to bow to every situation, happy to obey the demands of spiritual maturity and your union with God’s will. This is perfect love.”
You will get to a point where you no longer care if pleasant emotions are present or not, so united is your will with God’s that all is joy.
You’re clothed in nothing but God alone.
“Grace is rarely in a rush.”
Chapter 18
Go down the contemplative path and you will experience love.
Your efforts in this work must be unpretentious
At first contemplation will seem painful and hard to sustain
Your intellect “finds no food for itself” in the work of contemplation, thus the pain.
“Go forth and gently conquer. Be humble and passionate in this work. Persevere. Contemplation begins on earth but continues in eternity. Love never ends.”