Teresa of Avila

Interior Castle

One of the most celebrated works on mystical theology in existence, as timely today as when St. Teresa of Avila wrote it centuries ago, this is a treasury of unforgettable maxims on self-knowledge and fulfillment.

Interior Castle (Thrift Edition)

The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself (Penguin Classics)

Written at the command of her confessors, the books of this 16th century Spanish saint and mystic (a beloved friend to another great Spanish mystic, John of the Cross), St. Teresa's writings remain classics of Christian mysticism. Less abstract and theoretical than her friend, Teresa's works are no less noteworthy for the brilliance of their ability to convey with both warmth and rigor some flavor of this most extraordinary experience: union with God. Her autobiography may well be the best entry point into her work and into the great mystical literature of the Christian church. Here she describes her early life and education, the conflicts and crisis she underwent, culminating in her determination to enter fully into the path of prayer. Following a description of the contemplative life, which she explores in four stages, she returns to her own life in order to describe (in erotic language reminiscent of the Song of Songs) the ecstatic experiences given to her by God.

If the idea of mysticism seems hopelessly otherworldly to you, try a taste of St. Teresa, who can be as down to earth as Oprah--and sometimes just as amusing. --Doug Thorpe

Famous Carmelite classic in a wonderful traditional translation. her spiritual struggles, vision of her potential place in Hell, mystical graces - yet she remained very down to earth. Full of strong Catholic faith and robust common sense. One of hte most admirable women of all time! Nice, large type. Imprimatur.

The Interior Castle

Celebrated for almost five centuries as a master of spiritual literature, 16th-century saint, Teresa of Avila, is one of the most beloved religious figures in history.

Overcome one day by a mystical vision of a crystal castle with seven chambers, each representing a different stage in spiritual development, Teresa immediately wrote The Interior Castle. Probably her most important and widely studied work, it guides the spiritual seeker through each stage of development until the soul's final union with the divine. Free of religious dogma, this modern translation renders St. Teresa's work a beautiful and practical set of teachings for seekers of all faiths in need of spiritual guidance. It also places this classic in a contemporary context, reasserting its spiritual and literary importance even after more than 400 years.

The Way of Perfection

A guide to living by the great truths of Christianity--the simplest and most practical work of Teresa of Avila.

Interior Castle: The Classic Text With a Spiritual Commentary (Classics With Commentary)

Interior Castle

WHILE I was beseeching Our Lord to-day that He would speak through me, since I could find nothing to say and had no idea how to begin to carry out the obligation laid upon me by obedience, a thought occurred to me which I will now set down, in order to have some foundation on which to build. I began to think of the soul as if it were a castle made of a single diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms, just as in Heaven there are many mansions.

Thus begins Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle, one of the most celebrated books ever written by a mystic on abiding in union with Christ. Writing in obedience to the requests of two of her superiors, the humble 16th century Spanish sister protests "...for the love of God, let me get on with my spinning and go to choir...like the other sisters...I am not meant for writing; I have neither the health nor the wits for it."

However, in her pre-coffee-house conversational style, Teresa of Avila charmingly proves to her readers that she does have the wits for conveying that "the most essential thing is that we should love God..." as she takes us by the hand and lead us on a visually beautiful spiritual journey into the soul, that Interior Castle where Christ abides, and where we may abide with Him in holy, intimate communion.

Interior Castle St Teresa of Avila(A Pure Gold Classic) Includes audio excerpt CD (Pure Gold Classics)

Teresa of Avila wrote several books during her life that have become spiritual classics. Interior Castle written in 1577, unveils a profound spiritual vision in which St. Teresa saw the soul as a castle made of a single diamond . . . surrounded by six mansions the soul must traverse on its journey to the center of the castle and union with God. One approached the seventh mansion in the center of the castle, where the King of Glory dwells, by going through the other mansions of Humility, Practice of Prayer, Meditation, Quiet, Illumination, and Dark Night. In each of the seven mansions readers will experience a deepening desire to know God more intimately by conforming their wills to His will. Free audio excerpts CD!

The Book of Her Life

The Hackett edition of Teresa of Avila's spiritual autobiography features Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez's authoritative translation of The Book of Her Life with a new Introduction by Jodi Bilinkoff that will prove especially valuable to students of Early Modern Spain, the history of Christian spirituality, and classic women writers. A map, chronology, and index are also included.

The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Vol. 1