Life of Teresa of Jesus: The Autobiography of Teresa of Avila - Softcover

Allison Peers; Teresa Of Avila

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0385011091 ISBN 13: 9780385011099

Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1996

Synopsis

Written in 1565 at the request of her confessor, St. Teresa's autobiography is at once an extraordinary chronicle of a life governed by the desire to draw closer to God and a literary masterpiece that brings to life a woman of candor, humor, and great spiritual strength. Teresa writes of her early life, the conflicts and crises she faced, and her decision to enter a life of prayer. Her lyrical, almost erotic descriptions of ecstatic experiences call to mind the senuous language of the Song of Songs.

About this title

Review:

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--remain classics of Christian mysticism. Less abstract and theoretical than her friend, St Teresa's writings are no less noteworthy for the brilliance of their ability to convey with both warmth and rigour some flavour 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

Review:

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. Teresas writings remain classics of Christian mysticism. Less abstract and theoretical than her friend, Teresas 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, amazon.com

About this edition

• Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0385011091
• ISBN 13: 9780385011099
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400