The Fifth Dwelling│Mansions of the Spiritual Betrothal

Chapter one

1. Metaphors are useless as subtlety characterizes the sublime experience of God here.

2. One’s only care is pleasing God

3. Few enter here

4. “The truth is, the treasure is inside us.”

5. Hold nothing back.  God wants it all

6. Prayer of union = die to separate self - “a delicious death”

7. During prayer of union the soul transcends both sense and reason

8. The mind wants to participate but it can’t. Union is not something to understand

9. A few reptiles get in here ignore them, they do no harm

10. Deep in the 5th dwelling nothing can impede the blessing…not even the spirit of evil

11. All we do is serve and praise God with humility and simplicity of heart

12. The soul becomes a holy fool.  This is true wisdom

13. Union (contemplation) lasts a short time.  The soul never forgets this short exquisite gift even if it never happens again

14. She realizes union upon reflection not in the moment - p. 123

15. The gift of union is deeper than sacramental manifestation

16. Union brings certainty that union happened

17. We absolutely cannot make union happen p. 124

18. Give up the need to comprehend

19. Humility is literally the key

Chapter two

1. Nothing we can do to make union happen, we open ourselves to receive

2. Transformation happens when we are surrendered to God like the process from which a butterfly emerges from the silkworm.

3. Growth is all that matters

4. Growth comes from spiritual discipline maintained through struggle.

5. God is the home in which our soul resides.  Prayer of union p. 128

6. Let the silkworm die (separate self)

7. Union doesn’t last long (30 mins)

8. Soul is completely willing/all suffering is meaningless p. 129.  She wishes everyone could know God.

9. Easy to let go; can’t find rest or satisfaction in created things.

10. Painful longing to leave this world.

11. Moved to surrender completely to God “thy will be done” is all that matters.

12. Suffering melts in the warmth of God’s love.

13. There is great pain in seeing God dishonored and souls fall into unconsciousness.      

Chapter three

1. The Soul so moved wants to help other love and serve God p. 137

2. Tie our wills to God’s

3. The silkworm must die.  New life is about to unfold.

4. It is time to deal with the “little insects”, “subtle self-centeredness, judging others in insidious little ways, neglecting to cultivate compassion, and forgetting to love our neighbors as ourselves.”

5. The virtues God gives us are unencumbered by pride.

6. Have compassion and take action.

7. You are happier hearing someone else praised than receiving a compliment yourself.

8. When you see a fault in another, be “sorry as if it were your own” and help them to conceal it.

9. If “you are not loving your neighbor you have not attained union.”

Chapter four

1.  It is all about love melting into love

2.  The little butterfly finds no rest in worldly pleasures or spiritual consolations

3.  In the spiritual wedding between God and soul all is spiritual

4.  The soul understands all in the experience of direct connection/union

5.  Soul not yet strong enough to withstand temptations

6.  Single tryst. Union not stabilized

7.  Stay strong so we don’t jeopardize the relationship through our own unconsciousness

8.  The spirit of evil seeks to draw the will away from God and toward itself

9.  Question yourself because false confidence is folly

10.  Don’t worry too much.  God will hold onto you tightly

11.  Love is never idle

12.  Forget trivial worldly concerns

13.  My only desire is to praise him