Way of perfection (Paperback)

Teresa of Ávila also called Saint Teresa of Jesus baptized as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada (March 28 1515 - October 4 1582) was a prominent Spanish mystic Roman Catholic saint Carmelite nun writer of the Counter Reformation and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer. She was a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered to be a founder of the Discalced Carmelites along with John of the Cross. Although she designed her book for her fellow sisters of the Carmelite Order St. Teresa s Way of Perfection remains accessible to modern readers. In it she sets out to lead others along the way to union with God through prayer silence and meditation. A few of the book s 42 chapters could be called a collection of rules but the majority of the book more rightly fits the description of advice. As she suggests ways for readers to seek self-perfection her words are practical heartfelt and drawn from personal e xperience. Not only this but because of the book s less formal and less poetically obscure nature it offers up a more direct articulation of St. Teresa s theological views than do her autobiography or her most famous work The Interior Castle.