Chapter 12 Summary and Analysis

Opening the final chapter dealing with the Fifth Dwelling, Teresa introduces the analogy of God as the groom and the worshipper as the bride. In this phase, He is still courting her, but gives her the first taste of what "love melting into love" and their eternal unity will be like. She calls this stage spiritual betrothal. The agreement being made is between a soul who sees how worthy her Lord is and His seeing how willingly and completely she is offering herself to Him. They are compatible, and He arranges for them to be together. As a sign of her agreement to devote herself to Him, she removes herself from the possibility of error. The enemy of human souls will do everything in its power to drive a wedge here before their union is impenetrable, so the soul must be...