Ascent of Mt. Carmel - St. Patrick's Basilica

cause said Jeremias: 'With memory I will remember, and my soul will fail me for pain.' 503
CHAPTER VII
Which treats or the second kind or apprehension of the memory -- namely, imaginary
apprehensions -- and of supernatural knowledge.
ALTHOUGH in writing of natural apprehensions of the first kind we also gave instruction
concerning the imaginary, which are likewise natural, it was well to make this division
because of the love which the memory always has for other forms and kinds of
knowledge, which are of supernatural things, such as visions, revelations, locutions and
feelings which come in a supernatural way. When these things have passed through the
soul, there is wont to remain impressed upon it some image, form, figure or idea,
whether in the soul or in the memory or fancy, at times very vividly and effectively.
Concerning these images it is also needful to give advice, lest the memory be
encumbered with them and they be a hindrance to its union with God in perfect and
pure hope.
2. I say that the soul, in order to attain that blessing, must never reflect upon the
clear and distinct objects which may have passed through its mind by supernatural
means, in such a way as to preserve within itself the forms and figures and knowledge
of those things. For we must ever bear in mind this principle: the greater heed the soul
gives to any clear and distinct apprehensions, whether natural or supernatural, the less
capacity and preparation it has for entering into the abyss of faith, wherein are absorbed
all things else. For, as has been said, no supernatural forms or kinds of knowledge
which can be apprehended by the memory are God, and, in order to reach God, the
soul must void itself of all that is not God. The memory must also strip itself of all these
forms and kinds of knowledge, that it may unite itself with God in hope. For all
possession is contrary to hope, which, as Saint Paul says, belongs to that which is not
possessed. 504 Wherefore, the more the memory dispossesses itself, the greater is its
hope; and the more it has of hope, the more it has of union with God; for, with respect to
God, the more the soul hopes, the more it attains. And it hopes most when it is most
completely dispossessed; and, when it shall be perfectly dispossessed, it will remain
with the perfect possession of God, in Divine union. But there are many who will not
deprive themselves of the sweetness and delight which memory finds in those forms
and notions, wherefore they attain not to supreme possession and perfect sweetness.
For he that renounces not all that he possesses cannot be the disciple of Christ. 505
CHAPTER VIII
Of the evils which may be caused in the soul by the knowledge of supernatural things, if
it reflect upon them. Says how many these evils are.
503 Lamentations iii, 20.
504 Hebrews xi, 1.
505 St. Luke xiv, 33.
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