The Way of Perfection: Index of footnotes

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The Way of Perfection
IntraText CT - Index of footnotes

INTRODUCTION
ESCORIAL AUTOGRAPH
1: Cf. Vol. I, pp. 2-5, above 
2: See also the reference, in the "General Argument" of the Valladolid redaction, to her being Priores[...]

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
3: E.g., at places where a CHAPTER ends in E. but not in V. 
4: One special case of this class is the suppression in V. of one out of two or three almost but not q[...]

General Argument
  5: With few exceptions, the footnotes to the Way of perfection are the translators. Square brackets ar[...]
  6: This title, in St. Teresa's hand, appears on the first page of the Valladolid autograph (V.) which,[...]
  7: These lines, also in St. Teresa's hand, follow the title in the Valladolid autograph. P. B‡-ez adde[...]

PROTESTATIONS
8: This Protestation, taken from T., was dictated by St. Teresa for the edition of the Way of perfecti[...]

PROLOGUE
9: The words "Fray Domingo Ba-es" are crossed out, probably by P. B‡-ez himself. T. has: "from the Fat[...]
10: The pronoun (quien) in the Spanish is singular, but in the sixteenth century it could have plural f[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 1 - Of the reason which moved me to found this convent in such strict observance.
 11: French Protestantism which had been repressed during the reigns of Francis I and Henry II, increase[...]
 12: Lit.: "and bad." 
 13: All‡ se lo hayan. "And serve them right!" would, in most contexts, be a more exact rendering of thi[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 2 - Treats of how the necessities of the body should be disregarded and of the good that comes from poverty.
 14: An apparent reference to St. Mark xiii, 31. 
 15: In the Spanish the subject is in the singular: P. B‡-ez inserted "the house", but crossed this out [...]
 16: St. Teresa liked to have hermitages in the grounds of her convents to give the nuns opportunity for[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 3 - Continues the subject begun in the first CHAPTER and persuades the sisters to busy themselves constantly in beseeching God to help those who work for the Church. Ends with an exclamatory prayer.
 17: Lit.: "making this corner." The reference is to St. Joseph's, çvila. 
 18: The italicized lines which follow, and are in the nature of a digression, do not appear in V., and [...]
 19: Here follow two erased lines which are illegible but for the words "Thou didst honour the world". T[...]
 20: Lit.: "of those." P. B‡-ez wrote in the margin "of the mansions" using the word which is thus trans[...]
 21: Lit., "poor little one."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 4 - Exhorts the nuns to keep their Rule and names three things which are important for the spiritual life. Describes the first of these three things, which is love of one's neighbour, and speaks of the harm which can be done by individual friendships.
 22: Lit.: "are seldom ordered in such a way as." 
 23: "Other" is not in the Spanish. "When they are only between", is the reading of T., which also omits[...]
 24: Here begins the passage reproduced in the Appendix to CHAPTER 4, below. 
 25: Honra.

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 5 - Continues speaking of confessors. Explains why it is important that they should be learned men.
26: Lit.: "I beg her who is in the position of a senior (mayor)." Mayor was the title given to the supe[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 7 - Treats of the same subject of spiritual love and gives certain counsels for gaining it.
 27: Lit.: "There remains, as people say, no patience"; but, as the phrase "as people say" (which E. omi[...]
 28: Ternura. Lit.: ''tenderness." 
 29: Lit.: "My life!" "My soul!" "My good!"

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 8 - Treats of the great benefit of self-detachment, both interior and exterior, from all things created.
30: Lit.: de darnos todas a ƒl todo: "giving ourselves wholly to Him wholly." 
31: The thirteenth was St. Teresa.

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 9 - Treats of the great blessing that shunning their relatives brings to those who have left the world and shows how by doing so they will find truer friends.
32: De sus tierras. The phrase will also bear the interpretation: "from their own countries."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 10 - Teaches that detachment from the things aforementioned is insufficient if we are not detached from our own selves and that this virtue and humility go together.
 33: The sense of this passage, especially without the phrase from E. which V. omits, is not very clear.[...]
 34: Here, in the margin, is written: "Humility and mortification, very great virtues." 
 35: Lit.: "to contrive not to die." But the reading of E. ("to think that we came to the convent for no[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 11 - Continues to treat of mortification and describes how it may be attained in times of sickness.
36: Lit.: "which can be suffered on foot." 
37: Lit.: "to look at (or to) what is needful" -- the phrase is ambiguous and might mean: "to worry abo[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 12 - Teaches that the true lover of God must care little for life and honour.
38: Lit.: "awakens." 
39: Lit.: "Do you know why, apart from other things?"

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 13 - Continues to treat of mortification and explains how one must renounce the world's standards of wisdom in order to attain to true wisdom.
 40: Lit.: "did them to Him." 
 41: Lit.: "to this college of Christ." 
 42: I.e., St. Joseph's, çvila.

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 14 - Treats of the great importance of not professing anyone whose spirit is contrary to the things aforementioned.
43: An untranslatable play upon words: corto y no muy cortado -- as though "sharpened" could be used in[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 15 - Treats of the great advantage which comes from our not excusing ourselves, even though we find we are unjustly condemned.
44: Proverbs xxiv, 16.

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 16 - Describes the difference between perfection in the lives of contemplatives and in the lives of those who are content with mental prayer. Explains how it is sometimes possible for God to raise a distracted soul to perfect contemplation and the reason for this. This CHAPTER and that which comes next are to be noted carefully.
 45: The first four paragraphs of this CHAPTER originally formed part of V., but, after writing them, St[...]
 46: Chess was very much in vogue in the Spain of St. Teresa's day and it was only in 1561 that its grea[...]
 47: Lit.: "the great virtues." In V. St. Teresa originally began this sentence thus: "In the last CHAPT[...]
 48: Lit.: "out of his hands", but the meaning, made more explicit in V., is evident. On the doctrinal q[...]
 49: Lit.: "and tenderness." 
 50: Lit.: "low", contrasting with "high" at the end of the sentence. 
 51: Acts x, 34.

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 17 - How not all souls are fitted for contemplation and how some take long to attain it. True humility will walk happily along the road by which the Lord leads it.
52: St. Luke xiv, 10. 
53: Lit.: "These others."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 18 - Continues the same subject and shows how much greater are the trials of contemplatives than those of actives. This CHAPTER offers great consolation to actives.
 54: Lit.: "would give them nothing", but the reference seems to be to payment. 
 55: Lit.: "very, very certain" -- a typically Teresan repetition. 
 56: Lit.: "who is such."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 19 - Begins to treat of prayer. Addresses souls who cannot reason with the understanding.
 57: Lit.: "so many days." 
 58: Lit.: "It will have to go as it comes out." 
 59: St Teresa is probably referring to the treatises of Luis de Granada and St. Peter of Alc‡ntara (S.S[...]
 60: Lit.: "of his doing something on (the horse) which is not graceful." 
 61: St. John iv, 13. 
 62: Lit.: "But this one -- no, no." 
 63: The author probably refers to herself: Cf. Life, CHAPTER XX, and Relations, passim. 
 64: Lit.: "drowned." 
 65: Lit.: "We eat it without measure." 
 66: Lit.: "to cut the thread." 
 67: Presumably a reminiscence of Romans vii, 24 or Philippians i, 23. 
 68: This, too, is generally taken as referring to St. Teresa herself. 
 69: Cassian: Conferences, II. v. 
 70: E. ends the CHAPTER here. This final paragraph appears to be based upon St. John vii, 37.

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 20 - Describes how, in one way or another, we never lack consolation on the road of prayer. Counsels the sisters to include this subject continually in their conversation.
 71: There is a reference here to St. John xiv, 2. 
 72: St. John vii, 37. 
 73: Lit.: "these are they who are, etc." 
 74: Cuenta de perdones: a bead larger in size than the remainder in the rosary and carrying special ind[...]
 75: Lit.: "of beginning so great a good." 
 76: Lit.: "save in God" -- i.e., save as those whose life is centred in God: not necessarily, I think, [...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 21 - Describes the great importance of setting out upon the practice of prayer with firm resolution and of heeding no difficulties put in the way by the devil.
 77: "Do not be surprised, daughters, for this is the royal road (camino real) to Heaven." A more idioma[...]
 78: Lit.: "determined determination": this doubling of words is not uncommon in St. Teresa. 
 79: Lit.: "are such ingenious geniuses." 
 80: V.: alguna consideraci-n: the use of the singular form in a plural sense, with the shade of meaning[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 22 - Explains the meaning of mental prayer.
 81: This is generally taken as referring to St. Teresa's visit to Do-a Luisa de la Cerda in 1562. <b[...]
 82: Lit.: "to call her 'Honour." The point of this delightfully unaffected reminiscence, omitted in V. [...]
 83: For "fears" the original has "things"; but that seems to be the meaning. 
 84: Lit.: "a thing". 
 85: Lit.: "a Beauty . . . itself", as though referring to obras: "works." 
 86: Lit.: "Yes, approach God, and, in approaching, try." 
 87: The words "think about our Spouse" appear in no manuscript but were added by Luis de Le-n.

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 23 - Describes the importance of not turning back when one has set out upon the way of prayer. Repeats how necessary it is to be resolute.
 88: Este cuidadito: lit., "this little attentiveness" -- another characteristic diminuitive. 
 89: Lit.: "a nothing at all" (una nonada). 
 90: No es nada delicado mi Dios. "Fastidious" might be nearer to the characteristically bold adjective [...]
 91: St. Luke xi, 9. 
 92: Lit.: "the good."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 24 - Describes how vocal prayer may be practised with perfection and how closely allied it is to mental prayer.
93: The word rendered "discuss", both here and below, is a strong one, entrometerse, to intermeddle.<br[...]
94: More literally: "consider", "reflect".

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 25 - Describes the great gain which comes to a soul when it practises vocal prayer perfectly. Shows how God may raise it thence to things supernatural.
95: Lit.: "and that His greatness is addressing her." 
96: algarab'a. Lit.: "Arabic" and hence "gibberish," "jargon."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 26 - Continues the description of a method for recollecting the thoughts. Describes means of doing this. This CHAPTER is very profitable for those who are beginning prayer.
 97: A vague reminiscence of some phrase from Canticles: perhaps ii, 14, 16, v, 2, or vi, 12. 
 98: Or "love Him". The verb in the Spanish can have either meaning. 
 99: Lit.: "With what majesty!"

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 29 - Continues to describe methods for achieving this Prayer of Recollection. Says what little account we should make of being favoured by our superiors.
 100: Psalm xxxvi (A.V., xxxvii, 25). 
 101: Psalm xxxiii 20-1 (A.V., xxxiv, 19-20). 
 102: Lit. "when they deflect the soul in any way from going within itself." 
 103: Lit.: "see." 
 104: Lit.: "once we begin to be glad." 
 105: Lit.: "of recollection within me."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 30 - Describes the importance of understanding what we ask for in prayer. Treats of these words in the Paternoster: "Sanctificetur nomen tuum, adveniat regnum tuum." Applies them to the Prayer of Quiet, and begins the explanation of them.
106: "Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 31 - Continues the same subject. Explains what is meant by the Prayer of Quiet. Gives several counsels to those who experience it. This CHAPTER is very noteworthy.
 107: The allusion is, of course, to St. Luke ii, 25 ("just and devout"), 29. 
 108: Moradas. The "three tabernacles" of St. Matthew xvii, 4. 
 109: In the margin of T. the author adds, in her own hand, that this contemplative was St. Francis Borgi[...]
 110: St. Luke xviii, 13. St. Teresa apparently forgot that the publican "would not so much as lift his e[...]
 111: Lit.: "and drawn along with it"; the same phrase is found at the end of the preceding paragraph.<br[...]
 112: Lit. "let the milk fall out of its mouth." 
 113: Algarab'a. Cf. n. 96 above. 
 114: Lit.: "neither the one nor the other will gain."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 32 - Expounds these words of the Paternoster: "Fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo et in terra." Describes how much is accomplished by those who repeat these words with full resolution and how well the Lord rewards them for it.
115: "Thy will be done: as in Heaven, so on earth." 
116: Lit. "given it."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 33 - Treats of our great need that the Lord should give us what we ask in these words of the Paternoster: "Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie."
 117: "Give us this day our daily bread." 
 118: Lit.: "should want as much for himself as for his neighbour, and for his neighbour as for himself."[...]
 119: Lit.: "each day, each day." 
 120: This, as will be observed from the title to this CHAPTER, is the order of the words in the Latin.<b[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 34 - Continues the same subject. This is very suitable for reading after the reception of the Most Holy Sacrament.
 121: Lit.: "in service" -- en servidumbre, a strong word, better rendered, perhaps, "servitude," and not[...]
 122: The whole of this paragraph is lightly crossed out in the manuscript. 
 123: Lit.: "as if by (someone's) hand." St. Teresa is thought here to be referring to herself.

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 35 - Describes the recollection which should be practised after Communion. Concludes this subject with an exclamatory prayer to the Eternal Father.
 124: Lit.: "and have him within itself with love." 
 125: The sense of the verb here rendered "cause the loss of" is vague. Literally the phrase reads: "so m[...]
 126: St. Matthew viii, 25.

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 36 - Treats of these words in the Paternoster: "Dimitte nobis debita nostra."
 127: "Forgive us our debts." 
 128: Lit.: "ill-treated." The same verb is used in the following sentence. 
 129: Lit.: "our Honourer" -- Honrador nuestro: a rather unusual phrase which T. changes into the quite c[...]
 130: St. Teresa left this sentence uncompleted. Luis de Le-n added: "You need not . . . prayer" in his e[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 37 - Describes the excellence of this prayer called the Paternoster, and the many ways in which we shall find consolation in it.
131: Lit.: "He left it thus confused." Here follows in E., in place of the rest of this paragraph, a pas[...]
132: The words "though . . . forgive" are crossed out in the manuscript, as is the following sentence "M[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 38 - Treats of the great need which we have to beseech the Eternal Father to grant us what we ask in these words: "Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo." Explains certain temptations. This CHAPTER is noteworthy.
 133: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." 
 134: Lit.: "gains", as also in the next paragraph. E. has: "because they have hopes of becoming rich." T[...]
 135: It will be noticed that this paragraph is similar to the last paragraph in the text of V. (p. 254, [...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 39 - Continues the same subject and gives counsels concerning different kinds of temptation. Suggests two remedies by which we may be freed from temptations.
136: A marginal addition made, in the autograph, to the title by another hand reads: "This CHAPTER is ve[...]
137: Lit.: "these treasons."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 40 - Describes how, by striving always to walk in the love and fear of God, we shall travel safely amid all these temptations.
138: Lit.: "these two virtues, so great, so great." 
139: Lit.: "to an inn for ever, ever, for eternity." The repetition of "ever" (siempre) reminds one of t[...]

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 41 - Speaks of the fear of God and of how we must keep ourselves from venial sins.
140: Lit.: "the infernal slaves." 
141: Or "for [if we do this] we shall never reach our goal."

The Way of Perfection
CHAPTER 42 - Treats of these last words of the Paternoster: "Sed libera nos a malo. Amen." "But deliver us from evil. Amen."
 142: St. Luke xxii, 15. 
 143: Philippians iv, 13. 
 144: Lit.: "Let those who are so." 
 145: The Life. 
 146: The Life. I do not know what reason St. Teresa had to suppose this, but the Spanish of E. ("tambiŽn[...]
 147: Lit.: "you will take my will, as I have obeyed your command with the work" [i.e. in deed].

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