Life of St Teresa of Jesus | Page 8

was written from the beginning with a view
to publication. Allusions to this object may be found in various places
[28] as well as in the letter appended to the book, [29] but the decisive
utterances must be sought for elsewhere, namely in the "Way of
Perfection." This work was written immediately after the "Life," while
the Saint was as yet at the convent of St. Joseph's. It was re-written
later on and is now only known in its final shape, but the first version,
the original of which is preserved at the Escurial and has been
reproduced photographically, leaves no doubt as to the intentions of St.
Teresa in writing her "Life." "I have written a few days ago a certain
Relation of my Life. But since it might happen that my confessor may
not permit you (the Sisters of St. Joseph's) to read it, I will put here
some things concerning prayer which are conformable to what I have
said there, as well as some other things which appear to me to be
necessary." [30] Again: "As all this is better explained in the book
which I say I have written, there is no need for me to speak of it with so
much detail. I have said there all I know. Those of you who have been
led by God to this degree of contemplation (and I say that some have
been led so far), should procure the book because it is important for
you, after I am dead." [31] At the end she writes: "Since the Lord has
taught you the way and has inspired me as to what I should put in the
book which I say has been written, how they should behave who have
arrived at this fountain of living water and what the soul feels there,
and how God satiates her and makes her lose the thirst for things of this
world and causes her to grow in things pertaining to the service of God;
that book, therefore, will be of great help for those who have arrived at
this state, and will give them much light. Procure it. For Father

Domingo Bañez, presentado of the Order of St. Dominic who, as I say,
is my confessor, and to whom I shall give this, has it: if he judges that
you should see this, and gives it to you, he will also give you the other."
[32] While the first and second of these quotations may be found,
somewhat weakened, in the final version of the "Way of Perfection,"
the last one is entirely omitted. Nor need this surprise us, for Father
Bañez had his own ideas about the advisability of the publication of the
"Life." In his deposition, already referred to, he says: "It was not
convenient that this book should become public during her lifetime, but
rather that it should be kept at the Holy Office (the Inquisition) until we
knew the end of this person; it was therefore quite against my will that
some copies were taken while it was in the hands of the bishop Don
Alvaro Mendoza, who, being a powerful prelate and having received it
from the said Teresa of Jesus, allowed it to be copied and showed it to
his sister, doña Maria de Mendoza; thus certain persons taking an
interest in spiritual matters and knowing already some portions of this
treatise (evidently the contents of the divulged Relations) made further
copies, one of which became the property of the Duchess of Alba, doña
Maria Enriquez, and is now, I think, in the hands of her daughter-in-law,
doña Maria de Toledo. All this was against my wish, and I was much
annoyed with the said Teresa of Jesus, though I knew well it was not
her fault but the fault of those to whom she had confided the book, and
I told her she ought to burn the original because it would never do that
the writings of women should become public property; to which she
answered she was quite aware of it and would certainly burn it if I told
her to do so; but knowing her great humility and obedience I did not
dare to have it destroyed but handed it to the Holy Office for
safe-keeping, whence it has been withdrawn since her death and
published in print." [33] From this it will he seen that Bañez, who had
given a most favourable opinion when the "Life" was denounced to the
Inquisition (1574), resulting in the approbation by Cardinal de Quiroga
to the great joy of St. Teresa, [34] returned it to the Holy Office for
safety's sake. It was withdrawn by the Ven. Mother Anne of Jesus when
the Order had decided upon the publication of the works of the Saint,
but