An interpretation of Love

Translated from the original by Ana Giménez.

Let´s set the pledge among Teresa and Gracián a bit more. Three years before they met, Jesus Christ had sealed a marriage commitment pledge with her (Relations 35).When we read both accounts -Relations 35 and 39-40, we realize that they are both similar, with slight differences. Her spiritual marriage commitment with Christ is the highest union on earth, a preview of what heaven will be like. They also hold hands and receive a nail, symbol of union in the cross with the Risen Christ. In the marriage rite to Gracián, they hold hands and committed themselves till after death, till heaven to “bring souls to God” and they agree “conform” to decisions to take. Gracián takes Christ´s place while they live here. She feels accompanied by Christ, always on His right side, with the exception of two occasions, once with the Virgin Mary and the second time with Gracián. More than a vow of obedience it´s a marriage commitment without creating a family, a kind of spiritual and apostolic love.

– I propose the hypothesis of understanding the marriage o Gracián from the point of view Teresa has of heaven. What happens in heaven must happen on earth. Jerusalem’s Temple is a copy of heaven, everyone´s heart as well as it is dwelled by God Himself. The earth is the beginning. Heaven is a huge city and in its centre the tree of the Cross, Christ just risen. We, ourselves, will be transformed in Christ, contemplating the Lord face to face, in an infinite communication with Him and the blessed. Teresa moves forward that heaven to the earth and commits herself with him, now and in the future, because she wants to have him really close in the eternity.

– From there, the result of a few conclusions: the communication among people, has to have a common objective, help each other to grow in holiness and bring souls to God. Everything is made second to these two objectives. There is no time for superficiality. In the relation with Jesus Christ through discursive meditation, vocal prayer and friendship relationships, love to our neighbour in general may arouse. Paradoxical it may seem, it´s a free relationship, It´s not possessive, not dependent, always open to new relationships, even if they are not so deep. Teresa warns her nuns against unhealthy love (“particular friendships”, she calls them) but not against unselfish relationships, of mutual help. The marriage relation, which includes sexuality and forming a family, is a kind of love, not the only one. I cant´s understand that she may forbid her nuns what has done so much right to her. She only warns them of its risks and strongly forbids the nuns to maintain unhealthy relationships. Heaven is built on earth. The Kingdom of God “we expect to reach” is built from human relations and with Christ.

-It seems incomprehensible the existence of certain institutions in Church that deny human relations among their members. They turn people into isolated atoms, they are obliged to confess with specific individuals determined by their authorities or so. That way they block the path for spiritual growth among its members, who are doomed to an illnesses.