The Way of Perfection (Image Classics)

by Teresa of Avila

Paperback, 1991

Status

Available

Collection

Description

Of all of Teresa of Avila's works, The Way of Perfection is the most easily understood. Written at the height of the controversy surrounding the reforms Teresa instituted in the Carmelite order, it instructed the nuns in the practice of prayer. Teresa discusses the three essentials of a prayer-filled life -- fraternal love, detachment from material things, and true humility. Her counsels on these are the fruit of her practical experience. The book develops these ideas and takes up directly the matters of prayer and contemplation. Teresa gives various maxims for the practice of prayer and concludes the book with her masterful and impassioned version of the Lord's Prayer. "How is it that Thou canst give us so much with Thy first word?" she says of the "Our" at the beginning of that prayer. The simple and practical nature of this mystical classic will appeal to all who seek a life of wholeness.… (more)

Publication

Image (1991), Edition: Reissue, 320 pages

Rating

(53 ratings; 4.1)

User reviews

LibraryThing member shooster
This work is a little different at first. It assumes you're well versed in European history, but after a few chapters it really walk you through a lot of interesting concepts of phsycology mingled with spirituality.
LibraryThing member wrmjr66
This is a very readable, even domestic, work from a 16th century Spanish mystic. I have somehow not read her before, other than some brief excerpts, and I gather that this is not representative of her more mystical works. Steeled for something more like St. John of the Cross, it took me awhile to
Show More
get used to her tone. Once I did, though, I found her an engaging thinker who uses some wonderful images and extended similes to make her points.

The book was written at the behest of her fellow nuns as an instruction in prayer. The first third of the book is dedicated to preparing oneself to pray, and thus it talks about virtues like humility at length. The last two-thirds is an extended analysis of the Lord's prayer, going through each clause in detail. It is in this section where Teresa's greatest writing and thinking is to be found.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this book. I feel more prepared now to read some of her more mystical books in the future
Show Less
LibraryThing member SunitaDcunha
A very beautiful book on the way of Christian living as understood and practiced by St. Theresa of Avila
LibraryThing member Debjani_Ray
For anyone of any religion who wants to understand the struggles of a mystic recounted first hand. This one is more St. Teresa's "How to do" book.
Page: 0.3586 seconds