FAUSTO GOMEZ OP
A kind reader, who read my column entitled “St. Teresa of Ávila, Master of Prayer” (O Clarim, October 11, 2024), asked me: Please, could you explain the meaning of the popular expression of St. Teresa “determined determination”? I gladly try!
The expression determined determination (determinada determinación) is often found in the writings of St. Teresa of Jesus: in her Life, the Mansions, or Interior Castle, Foundations, and above all, in The Way of Perfection.
We reflect on the meaning of the expression, and its application to the way of prayer.
1. RADICAL DETERMINATION
The context of the way of prayer is Teresa’s insights on prayer. Three things matter in any prayer: who is talking, with Whom, and what is saying (cf. Way of Perfection, 25, 3). She tells us that prayer consists more on loving much than on thinking much, that it is an encounter of friendship with God, who is a true friend. Prayer is humility and love. Basic prayer means the continuing experience of the presence of God in our soul. True prayer, the mystic tells us, is shown in good deeds.
We find the expression determinada determinación in Teresa’s most important events: when she enters the Convent (Life, 4, 1-2), when she made her religious profession (Ib. 4, 3), when she founds the first Reformed Convent, St. Joseph (Ib., 36, 1-9), and through the way of prayer. (Cf. Jesús Castellano Cervera, Guiones de doctrine teresiana).
Determined determination is a very important good attitude (virtue) of life, particularly within the context of prayer. We find it with other important virtues for La Santa, such as humility, love, detachment, magnanimity, and fortitude. An expert defines determined determination as “an act of Christian fortitude” (Castellano Cervera). Great determination is – we may say – a radical and vital manifestation of courage, a patient and persevering fortitude. Teresa’s determination covers the whole life, especially the way of prayer through life.
Determined determination is a continuing and firm resolution/decision to fight against sin and to acquire virtue. It is total commitment to God in every situation of life, and without any reservation, in spite of our confessed fragility. It is a requirement of the ascetical Christian life, which is needed by all Christians. Determined determinationfights spiritual mediocrity, or just a pious intention, or merely a wish to be holy. It is a firm decision to surrender totally to God, a constant movement to deeper continuing conversion.
The fundamental determination: Total conformity with the will of God. Teresa underlines the essential importance of the virtue of obedience, above all obedience to God; also to superiors (cf. Way of Perfection, 18, 8). She invites her nuns – and us – “to give ourselves to the Lord with the determination He gives himself to us” (Way of Perfection, 16, 9). The nuns – all Christians – will carry out their decisions “if they have true ‘determination’ to fulfill them” (Way of Perfection, 32, 8; cf. 32, 11). Example she often gives: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: He said to his Father, ‘Your will be done’, and He carried it out perfectly until dying on the cross for us (Ib. 32, 6).
Four steps required to attain “determined determination” and other connected virtues. (1) Make a strong resolution (I always explain here to my students the “determined determination” of St. Teresa); (2) make no exceptions; (3) actualize resolution often, and (4) make daily – and generously – exercise of resolution (William James).
DETERMINED DETERMINATION TO PRAY
It is very important to start the way of prayer with a “great determination,” with “a great determination to persevere”, with “a firm intention”: Why? Because it matters very much” ((Way of Perfection, 23, 1). It does matter because with this determination the devil cannot do much to tempt, and because one is ready to fight and never look back. Besides, and what is most radically essential, the Lord always helps more than what we need, and He will never leave us (Ib. 23, 4-5’; cf. Mansions, II, 1, 6); “God never fails to help the one who has given up everything for Him” (Way of Perfection, 1, 2). The water of the living fountain [Jesus] will not fail us, although we can fail him.
Through the way of prayer, one “must always go with determination to the point of even dying before leaving the way.” “The soul that walks with determination has walked a great part of the way” (Life, 11, 13). There is always the need of a great and very determined determination to journey by the way of prayer up to the end (Way of Perfection, 20, nos. 2 and 5). Teresa encourages her nuns to go always forward, without discouragement, fear and the dangers and difficulties to be faced. She adds: Go forward “even if the world sinks” (Ib. 21, 2).
Is that hard to do? It looks difficult, even awesome perhaps, but it is not. We try to pray with a clean conscience, peace and calmness of soul (Way of Perfection, 20, 5). Then, even collected vocal prayer (e. g., the Paternoster, Teresa’s example)can lead by God’s grace to contemplation and union with God: from the first to the seventh Mansion.
Teresa wanted that her sisters follow the steps of the different kinds of prayeras a dynamic and ascending process of interiorization of the presence of God within each one. This process is profoundly presented in her most sublime writing, the Interior Castle: no to sin; yes, to Jesus; vocal and mental prayer; prayer of quiet, contemplative prayer, of union, and of spiritual marriage with the Beloved.
Mother Teresa’s nuns are secluded in their respective monastery, but they all pray and sacrifice for the conversion and salvation of the world. “For saving a soul in purgatory, I would be in purgatory until the final judgment” (Way of Perfection, 3, 6). (Before dying, Teresa asked her nuns humbly to help her come out of purgatory!).
Concluding words. In this world, the Lord asks from us two things only: love of His Majesty, and of the neighbor. “To my knowledge, the clearer sign to show that we keep both is by fulfilling well the love of neighbor: we cannot know for sure if we love God, although there are great signs to understand that we love Him; however, we can be sure of the love of neighbor” (Mansions V, 3 and 7-8).