Introduction
Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) is one of the most beloved spiritual figures in history. Therefore, she was born on March 28, 1515 at crown castle which is today’s Spain. Like Francis of Assisi, she is known around the world as a great mystic, saint, and reformer. This refreshing and thoughtful biography captures the compelling combination of down-to earth humanity and profound, enriching spirituality that Teresa’s hall mark. She held unconventional, progressive views on prayer and worship; had outstanding administrative and literary talents; experienced flamboyant-arguably erotic-rapture; traveled around Spain to found and supervise convents; and spent much of her life …show more content…
Her spiritual directors helped her very little at that time. She belonged to a Godly family who feared God. “Our God helped me with his grace.” She began to think seriously when she was six or seven years old. Her parents were very good themselves as they always respect the goodness. In addition, her father was a man of great truthfulness and her mother was very calm and had a great dignity. She had two sisters and nine brothers. All, by the mercy of God, resembled their parents in goodness except her. She was most cherished by her father. ”I think God had some reason for this, because I am filled with sorrow whenever I think of the good desires with which our Lord inspired me and the pitifully wretched use I made of them (Life I).” Conclusion
Teresa is one of the foremost writers on mental prayer, and her position among writers on mystical theology is unique. In all her writings on this subject she deals with her personal experiences. Her deep insight and analytical gifts helped her to explain them clearly. Her definition was used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "Contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” She used a metaphor of mystic prayer as watering a garden throughout her writings.
Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) is one of the most beloved spiritual figures in history. Therefore, she was born on March 28, 1515 at crown castle which is today’s Spain. Like Francis of Assisi, she is known around the world as a great mystic, saint, and reformer. This refreshing and thoughtful biography captures the compelling combination of down-to earth humanity and profound, enriching spirituality that Teresa’s hall mark. She held unconventional, progressive views on prayer and worship; had outstanding administrative and literary talents; experienced flamboyant-arguably erotic-rapture; traveled around Spain to found and supervise convents; and spent much of her life …show more content…
Her spiritual directors helped her very little at that time. She belonged to a Godly family who feared God. “Our God helped me with his grace.” She began to think seriously when she was six or seven years old. Her parents were very good themselves as they always respect the goodness. In addition, her father was a man of great truthfulness and her mother was very calm and had a great dignity. She had two sisters and nine brothers. All, by the mercy of God, resembled their parents in goodness except her. She was most cherished by her father. ”I think God had some reason for this, because I am filled with sorrow whenever I think of the good desires with which our Lord inspired me and the pitifully wretched use I made of them (Life I).” Conclusion
Teresa is one of the foremost writers on mental prayer, and her position among writers on mystical theology is unique. In all her writings on this subject she deals with her personal experiences. Her deep insight and analytical gifts helped her to explain them clearly. Her definition was used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "Contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” She used a metaphor of mystic prayer as watering a garden throughout her writings.