After completing their last foundation of Carmelites together, St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila and her friend Father Jerome Gratian wrote up a humorous treatise called “Constitutions of the Cerro.”

Michael Dodd translated it into English for a book of essays called A Better Wine. He identifies the Spanish word “cerro” as meaning “hill” (as opposed to the “mountain” of Carmel that Carmelites are to strive to climb).

Cerro, Dodd says, also can mean “to go astray” and “to be irrelevant,” and it hints at pride and vanity, and of being closed off, rude, self-absorbed, stiff-necked and obstinate.

The word is perfect for this little tome whose cast of characters boast interesting names.

The Carmelite characters who have gathered for the fictional meeting include “from the convent of Disobedience, Prior Disobedient Backtalk and his companion, Fray (Father) Rigid Stiffneck.” Others from places like “the convent of Inattention,” “of Carelessness and Neglect of Responsibilities,” and so on, include Fray Relaxed Meddler, Fray Attached Toad, Fray Greedy Sharp, Fray Inattentive Bozo and Fray Lazy Goof-off.

We don’t usually think of sainted people as thinking of others as toads, but the last foundation the pair made together is said to have been a difficult one. Both Teresa and Father Jerome had been around the block, so to speak, more than once by this point in time, and they probably needed to compose such a satirical writing to give themselves perspective and also to try to teach their charges a thing or two with some exaggerated humor.

The dysfunctional gathering composes convent rules such as:

“... let none of our subjects ... fail to object at least once or twice to that which obedience might demand of him or her.”

“We further decree and ordain that they always judge the superior harshly ... If he speaks sharp, serious words, put it down to pride and despise him. If he speaks lovingly and sweetly, put it down to lack of authority and hold him in contempt.”

“... be disproportionately afflicted and become quite noticeably angry, gloomy, and arrogant ...”

The friars and nuns are counseled to be over-zealous, self-deceived, stubborn, divisive, tending to excess, suspicious, self-seeking and always, always, always critical and manipulative.

One begins to wonder how any of the real convents and friaries survived with the occupants who inspired such an essay!

We find the answer at the very end, when the leader of the gathering begins to weep when he envisions “the universal weapon” against the foibles they teach, a weapon that leads persons to “the height of perfection.” The first few lines of that “brief, clear, and certain plan” provide the remedy to the all-too-human nonsense:

“Devote yourself to being very humble and love God tenderly. And put that person who has hurt you the most, wither inside or outside the convent, in your heart and together with the Heart of Christ love that one greatly. Let this be the first person you pray for. Ask nothing good for yourself that you do not first ask for the other ... .”

The group then calls on “Sisters Ignorance, Passion and Malice” and tells them to hide that secret, powerful prayer “thoroughly.”

I heard recently that just two weeks of practicing that kind of determined prayer for a “toad” is long enough to begin a transformation in the person who is praying. There is a grace of resilience within that kind of prayer — it strengthens the soul of the person who is suffering from others’ failings. Insight is another of the graces that God gives to one who prays for those who cause them difficulty. It helps the one who prays to have an idea of what causes another’s unsavory behavior.

The toads and bozos and meddlers and goof-offs are not happy people. That same lack of inner joy and security affects us all at times. We all are tempted to become self-absorbed and closed-minded. That means we all can understand even the most obnoxious person once God gives us some insight.

Prayer for those who torment us is the key to better convents and homes, workplaces and organizations. Such prayer can expand our hearts, making us more loving even toward those who actively seek to be unlovable.

And our living that heroic level of love might just make a difference for those toady people as well.