Showing results by author "St Teresa of Ávila" in All Categories

The 16th-century Spanish Carmelite nun St Teresa of Ávila was a prominent figure in the Catholic Reformation, and her writings have continued to inspire philosophers, theologians, historians, and countless others interested in Christian spirituality and mysticism. She distilled her own experience into this beautifully direct and accessible "living book", The Way of Perfection, as a guide for nuns in her convent.

The saints, the heroes of the Roman Catholic faith, lived lives of holiness, dedicated to serving God. The saints lived at different times in different places throughout history, but they all shared a love of God that has been documented through the teachings of the Church. Today, the saints serve as examples for all Catholics, showing the believers how to lead a more spiritual life. Catholic devotions are particular customs, rituals and practices of worship or in honour of the saints that are in addition to the liturgy of the Catholic Church.

The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila presents a remarkable description of the entire spiritual life from the first release from mortal sin into sanctifying grace through the Mystical Marriage of the soul with Christ as a journey through what she called The Interior Castle. She sees the soul as a magnificent castle full of spacious and well-lit rooms or mansions, each of which leads deeper into the heart of the castle to the seat of the king.

In The Interior Castle, Carmelite nun, mystic, and patron saint of Spain Teresa of Ávila uses the metaphor of a giant crystal castle to explain her theory of the soul and the various stages it passes through as it progresses towards God. Beginning in the outer rooms, where demons are fought and vices are purged, the soul must reach the inner chambers, where it will enter betrothal and intimate union with God. Prayer is central to the journey, as the soul is guided by its practice and each phase represents a different category of devotion.

In concentrated meditation, St. Teresa experienced a vision depicting the workings of the soul when one is truly seeking Christ. This vision revealed a beautiful castle, shining and brilliant, holding seven chambers within. She understood each of these chambers to represent the increasingly intimate levels of communion with God. Through peaceful and sincere prayer, one can experience this spiritual journey to complete and holy habitation in the presence of God. Through the seven stages of understanding, the soul must deny self, become humbled, and along the way, grow closer to the Lord.

St. Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582) gave the world the remarkable account of her life and work in her two autobiographies: The Life and The Foundation. However in both works she would have been aware of the public nature of the works, both to censors and opponents. With her letters the full character of St. Teresa comes out, providing a window into her personal communications. Her advise and counsel was invaluable to the recipients of the letters. Now modern readers can now also profit from these communications through this classic translation of the Spanish.

This work was originally composed by St. Teresa of Avila for her fellow sisters of the Carmelite Order. Although written for nuns it is very much accessible to modern readers. In this classic book she guides her fellow sisters on the way to union with God through prayer and meditation, offering helpful advise for readers to seek self-perfection. Her words are practical and heartfelt, coming from her personal experience. The book is less formal and gives a more clear form of St. Teresa's theological views than her autobiography or her famous book, The Interior Castle.

St. Teresa of Avila was a Carmelite nun, Spanish mystic, and reformer in the 16th century. She claims to have received visions from God, which are the subject of her written work. In this text, she emphasizes the importance of living a contemplative life in order to achieve complete union with God.

St. Teresa's (1515 - 1582) book of her foundations, is a historical account of the birth and development of her monastic order. Written by the saint herself, she gives her first-hand account of the trials and successes she had in spreading Catholic monasticism throughout Spain. The book is in a sense a sequel to her autobiographical, The Life which tells of her internal struggles to grow spiritually. A classic of Catholic literature, this book gives a rare first-hand glimpse of the labors of one of Spain's most revered saints.

Greatly revered by religious scholars both in her own time as well as today, St. Theresa of Avila’s words hold immense peace, wisdom, and encouragement in the walk of faith. She gives priceless guidance on such issues as prayer, connecting with God, meditation, and ultimate contentment and joy in Christ.

Close to Me includes a reading of the eponymous prayer followed by magical harp music based on an original composition of Johann Sebastian Bach, a devout Christian and gifted composer and musician. The Bach composition includes: Prelude in D major BWV 935 adapted for harp and performed by Greg Cetus.