Prologue

Jhs. MARIA.

I HAVE been a witness to the mercies that our Lord grants to souls He has cahed to these convents, which His Majesty has been pleased should be established according to the primitive Rule of our Lady of Mount Carmel. So sublime are some of the Divine favours shown to several of the nuns that only those who realise the need of somebody explaining to them certain things which occur in the intercourse between Christ and the soul, can understand what these religious suffer for want of light. For several years He has made me take such delight in hearing and reading some of the texts in the Canticles of Solomon, that, although I cannot clearly understand the meaning of the Latin in Spanish, yet they impress and affect me more than many devotional books in my own tongue. This is usually the case, but although people have told me the sense of the words in Spanish, I do not grasp their meaning any better than before . . .¹ and without intending it, they withdraw my soul from Him. . . .

For the last two years, our Lord has enabled me to perceive unaided the doctrine contained in some of these texts, which I think would bring comfort to those sisters whom He leads in this way, and even to myself; for sometimes He teaches me much on the subject that I should like to remember, yet I have never dared to write it down. By the advice of certain persons whom I am bound to obey, I will tell you some of the meanings that Christ taught me were contained in certain words in which my soul delighted during the state of prayer to which He has also raised some of the sisters in our convents, who are also my sisters. If it is given you to read, accept this poor little gift from her who desires for you, as for herself, all the gifts of the Holy Ghost, in Whose name I begin this book. Should I meet with any success in my attempt, it will not be through my own abilities. May His Majesty enable me to accomplish the work! . . , SOME VERSES OF THE CANTICLE.