St. Teresa of Avila
Although St. Teresa of Avila lived and wrote almost four centuries ago,her superbly inspiring classic on the practice of prayer is as freshand meaningful today as it was when she first wrote it. The Way ofPerfection is a practical guide to prayer setting forth the Saint'scounsels and directives for the attainment of spiritual perfection.
Through the entire work there runs the author's desire to teach a deepand lasting love of prayer beginning with a treatment of the threeessentials of the prayer-filled life --fraternal love, detachment fromcreated things, and true humility. St. Teresa's counsels on these arenot only the fruit of lofty mental speculation, but of mature practicalexperience. The next section develops these ideas and brings the readerdirectly to the subjects of prayer and contemplation. St. Teresa thengives various maxims for the practice of prayer and leads up to thetopic which occupies the balance of the book--a detailed and inspiringcommentary on the Lord's Prayer.
Of all St. Teresa's writings, The Way of Perfection is the most easilyunderstood. Although it is a work of sublime mystical beauty, itsoutstanding hallmark is its simplicity which instructs, exhorts, andinspires all those who are seeking a more perfect way of life.
"I shall speak of nothing of which I have no experience, either in myown life or in observation of others, or which the Lord has not taughtme in prayer."-- Prologue
Almost four centuries have passed since St. Teresa of Avila, the greatSpanish mystic and reformer, committed to writing the experiences whichbrought her to the highest degree of sanctity. Her search for, andeventual union with, God have been recorded in her own world-renownedwritings--the autobiographical Life, the celebrated masterpieceInterior Castle and The Way of Perfection-- as well as in the othernumerous works which flowed from her pen while she lived.
The Way of Perfection was written during the height of controversywhich raged over the reforms St. Teresa enacted within the CarmeliteOrder. Its specific purpose was to serve as a guide in the practice ofprayer and it sets forth her counsels and directives for the attainmentof spiritual perfection through prayer. It was composed by St. Teresaat the express command of her superiors, and was written during thelate hours in order not to interfere with the day's already crowdedschedule.---Without doubt it fulfills the tribute given all St. Teresa's works byE. Allison Peers, the outstanding authority on her writings: "Work of asublime beauty bearing the ineffaceable hallmark of genius."
