St. Teresa of Avila avoids the sin of detraction and encourages others to do the same
1 min • Digitized on November 15, 2021
From Life of St. Teresa of Avila written by Herself, page 35
By St. Teresa of Avila
It was a great thing for me to have had the grace of prayer which God had wrought in me; it made me understand what it is to love Him.
In a little while I saw these virtues renewed within me; still they were not strong, for they were not sufficient to sustain me in justice.
I never spoke ill in the slightest degree whatever of any one, and my ordinary practice was to avoid all detraction; for I used to keep most carefully in mind that I ought not to assent to, nor say of another, anything I should not like to have said of myself.
I was extremely careful to keep this resolution on all occasions; though not so perfectly, upon some great occasions that presented themselves, as not to break it sometimes.
But my ordinary practice was this: and thus those who were about me, and those with whom I conversed, became so convinced that it was right that they adopted it as a habit.
It came to be understood that where I was, absent persons were safe; so they were also with my friends and kindred, and with those whom I instructed.
Still, for all this, I have a strict account to give unto God for the bad example I gave in other respects. May it please His Majesty to forgive me, for I have been the cause of much evil; though not with intentions as perverse as were the acts that followed.