hwaskills.blogg.se

It has seven sets of dwelling places, or “rooms,” that lead one after another from the outside of the castle to its very center. Teresa said the soul is like a castle made out of pure crystal. God leads some individuals through seven ever-greater experi­ences and modes of praying, until finally one day, they experience the greatest union with God that is possible while still alive on earth. Then in 1970, Pope Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church, that is, one of the 30-some greatest teachers of the faith of all time. She was beatified in 1614 and canonized a saint in 1622. She advised many in the ways of the spiritual life. She emphasized the “gift” nature of mystical phenomenon. Teresa thoroughly mixed the quiet, contemplative life with a life of active service to others. Renovaré includes it in their list of “25 Books Every Christian Should Read.”

This is one of the truly great Christian books of all time. In 1577 Teresa began writing this masterpiece called The Interior Castle.

In fact, she talked him into helping her establish her reformed monasteries. John was going to leave the Carmelites for a more heavenly-minded order, but Teresa convinced him to remain. In 1567 she met a newly-ordained priest who would later be known as St. Teresa also wrote books about the mystical life. By the time of her death in 1582, she had founded 14 reform monasteries. She founded her first reformed monastery in 1562 in Av­ila. She entered into a new life where the mystical expe­rience of passive quiet, and often of union, became habitual for her.Īfter a terrifying vision of hell, Teresa became determined to establish convents that were less luxurious and more contemplative. In 1554, at 39 years of age, she experienced a powerful conversion. She led a prayerful life over the next 20 years but felt she had not surrendered fully to God. In 1535 she ran away from home and entered the Carmelite monastery in Avila. They were Catholics, but had Jewish ances­tors. At that time, her country was the greatest power on earth. Teresa of Avila was born in 1515 a.d., near the walled city of Avila in Spain.

Teresa of Ávila wrote “The Interior Castle” in 1577 as a guide for spiritual development and mystical prayer.