Chapter 22 Summary and Analysis

The penultimate chapter dealing with the Sixth Dwelling is dedicated to instruction on distinguishing a real vision. Her first comment is to remind her readers that the spirit of evil instills unrest and disquiet, when a vision should inspire a soul to get lost in loving God. Next she describes the moment in which God instills deep secrets to a soul, and she is able to see clearly the ways she has strayed from Him while she has dwelled with Him. She compares living for God to living in a vast castle, and points out that any selfish thing one does once she has given herself to God, she does inside that castle. Realization of that fact should make the soul grateful she is not instantaneously cast out in the moment of her disobedience, and should also quiet any self-righteousness that...