TERESA OF AVILA:(1515-1582) Institute for Carmelite Studies Publications I recommend: THE COLLECTED WORKS OF ST. TERESA OF AVILA, Vol. 1: Book of Her Life & Interior Castle, Vol. 2: The Way of Perfection, Vol. 3: Foundations, and COLLECTED LETTERS OF ST. TERESA OF AVILA: Vol.1 and Vol. 2. The Study Editions are good too but I prefer the basic collection for reading without a pre-conceived opinion. I suggest beginning with the Book of Her Life, and then reading the Collected Letters 1 & 2 to focus on a woman religious’ view of her life and world. She was quite familiar … Continue reading
Tag Archives: St. Teresa of Avila
I saw a wonderful blog post about Patron Saints of Writing Professionals which lists 7 excellent patron saints and tells a bit about each one. Noting that not one of my favorite Saints were on the list, I decided that I needed to do my own blog post about my “7” patron saints for writers. Each of these Saints were writers who left behind a body of work that has had a deep impact on me. Their books are cherished volumes on my shelves and their prayers I request every day. Saint John the Evangelist: writer credited with the gospel I … Continue reading
Saintly Examples The Saints were people who used their freedom to choose a path for themselves that the secular world and even the Church of their time found incomprehensible. These movers and shakers of the spiritual life were so willfully determined on the pursuit of holiness that they disturbed the people with whom they came into contact. Their success in living heroic virtue can be credited to God’s grace guaranteeing their freedom to use their free will and reason to decide what they wanted. In each case, their decisions led to lives of heroic virtue worthy of emulation. I read … Continue reading
Over at A Mother’s Place… she posted the question, “Who are your favorite Saints?” and I have so many, then she asked, “Why are these your favorites?” and I realized this was a good blog topic. So here we go: St. Teresa of Avila and St. Edith Stein are favorites from my time studying Carmelite writings and being in formation as a Lay Carmelite. It turned out to not be my path, at least not at this time of my life, and I came away with a deeper understanding of some incredible Saints and Doctors of the Church, a reverence … Continue reading
Detachment is a marvelous concept which is essential to the fulfillment of any vocation. Detachment is that inner disposition which clings to God and refuses to cling to anything or anyone else in that same way. Detachment is the inner freedom to use and enjoy the material goods of this world without becoming enslaved to them. Detachment does not mean giving up everything good and fun and living a miserable life but it can mean giving up something very good that in human weakness one would rather not let go. GOOD AND GREATER GOOD What is this talk of “good” … Continue reading