The Interior Castle: Saint Teresa’s Full-Proof Method of God Communion

The De Beers Jewelry marketing slogan of “Diamonds are Forever” might have been a perfect catchphrase for Saint Teresa’s “Diamond”, better known to us as the Interior Castle. However, this company was not yet around in 1577 when she was ordered to write another book. 

“Forever” was a well-chosen word because of the properties and symbolism inherent in the diamond. In the story of her Life (Chapter XL, Par. 14) Teresa had likened God to a diamond.

Let us suppose the Godhead to be a most brilliant
diamond, much larger than the whole world,
or a mirror like that to which I compared the soul
in a former vision, only in a way so high that I
cannot possibly describe it;
and that all our actions are seen in that diamond,
which is of such dimensions as to include everything,
because nothing can be beyond it.
It was a fearful thing for me to see, in so short a time,
so many things together in that brilliant diamond,
and a most piteous thing too, whenever I think of it,
to see such foul things as my sins
present in the pure brilliancy of that light.

Since we are made in the image and likeness of God she revisits this comparison again in Chapter One of the First Mansions of the Interior Castle, commenting on the dignity and beauty of the soul,

…we seldom consider the precious things that can be found in this soul,
or who dwells within it, or its high value.  
Consequently, little effort is made to preserve its beauty.
All our attention is taken up with the plainness of the diamond’s setting
or the outer wall of the castle, that is, with these bodies of ours.

Teresa was not a young person when asked to carry out this obedience. Already in her sixties, she stated that she did not even know how to begin this task nor were any thoughts coming to her mind. It was in ardent prayer that the basis for the writing was received. Thus she considered the soul

to be like a castle made entirely out of a diamond or of very clear crystal,
in which there are many rooms, just as in heaven there are many dwelling
places. (Interior Castle Chapter 1, Par. 2)

While elucidating the internal architecture of the castle, Teresa refrains from specifying the exact number of rooms she envisions. Each mansion appears to embody an infinite or perpetual potentiality, given the unique nature of each soul and the vast expanse of its journey. The absence of a logical arrangement of rooms leaves room for Teresa's spontaneous expression.

The term "forever" resurfaces, this time highlighting the diamond's qualities of hardness, durability, and endurance. It captivates us, beings with a definite beginning but destined for eternal existence. Navigating through the chambers of the diamond castle requires the enduring strength of the diamond itself, as we persist in our journey until we reach the central chamber, where His Majesty resides. Here, we discover the repose articulated by St. Augustine in his Confessions: "You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You."

Let's examine the three principal stages in the creation of a diamond gem and draw parallels to the arrangement of the main rooms in the seven mansions...

Extraction from the mine: Recognizing and removing of the raw diamond…
Mines are places of darkness and messiness and a skilled miner must have a trained eye to recognize the mineral he is seeking. It is hard work and if it is to be successful the miner must be disciplined and persevering.

Mansions 1-3:

There is a treasure that lies within buried in the darkness and often messiness of the soul. To discover it one must be willing to enter the door of the castle through prayer and descend into the deeper regions. As we proceed further, fears, doubts and discouragements can tempt us to turn back. This is the asceticism of discipline, applied to the diamond in the rough, where we either grow in faith and continue to move forward or return to our former reliance on our own reasoning. If we do not persevere the treasure will continue to lie buried and undiscovered.

Cutting of the diamond:
The artisan must determine the perfect proportions of a diamond before cutting in order to allow it to give off more sparkle. This is a delicate procedure that requires optimal skills as well as scientific knowledge and experience in order to produce a jewel of visually engaging beauty. Diamonds are highly valued and treasured in all cultures and countries. Of all the gems available, the diamond is still one of the most desired and cherished and the diamond engagement ring is the accepted standard to symbolize love and commitment.

Mansions 4 and 5:

This part of our journey takes us into the mystical realm where the cutting tool becomes grace in which the role of the Holy Spirit is more prominent than is our own striving. Human efforts alone cannot bring this about. In any cutting process something is lost in order to enhance what remains. The inability to pray as one did formerly is now replaced by an infused understanding of God which has deepened our capacity to love Him.

Just as the diamond has special optical properties which reflect the brilliance of the light optimized by the cutting, so also in the 5th mansion the memory and the imagination are completely illuminated by the divine light.

Polishing of the diamond:
The term polish refers to the removal of any blemishes on the surface of the diamond, which might become scratched or nicked in the cutting process. Polishing improves the quality of the diamond giving it the luster that has made it so prized among gems.

Mansions 6 and 7:

Just as the diamond received its final touches so the soul also in these last two mansions, where the Holy Spirit penetrates more deeply, allows self-knowledge to become fully manifested. Self-knowledge brings with it humility which eventually allows the soul to be open enough to permit God full reign. The spiritual betrothal which takes place in mansion six engenders in the soul a greater confidence.

As the diamond reflects eternal love so His Majesty residing in the inner chamber of the seventh mansion is the Eternal Love drawing the soul into this inner sanctum of His abiding presence where it is transfigured and rests in God through the spiritual marriage. In this community of divine love is expressed also one’s love of neighbor.

Similar to the joy experienced by the recipient of a diamond, Teresa concludes her exploration of the Mansions by describing the immense delight felt by those who have ventured into the depths of the Interior Castle, often likened to a precious diamond.

In contemplating the Diamond of the Interior Life, how insignificant does an earthly diamond appear in comparison?