Chapter 10 Summary and Analysis

Teresa's second chapter on the Fifth Dwelling introduces a metaphor she carries through to the end of the book. She begins by describing the way a silk worm tirelessly works for the benefit of people, and eventually gives up its life to that service. She invites long and deliberate meditation on the beauty of that life and sacrifice. Then she draws an analogy to the soul, citing the rituals of worship, literature and teaching as the food the young soul strengthens itself with, until it is fully developed and starts to build the house in which it will die. The house is Christ, and He is the cause and personality to which the believer gives herself up, and the house in which the believer will die to herself and her own desires. It is only when the silkworm dies that the...