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The Way of Transformation: Saint Teresa of Avila on the Foundation and Fruit of Prayer
The Way of Transformation is a play on the title of St. Teresa’s classic The Way of Perfection. Written for her Discalced Carmelite nuns, it is nonetheless considered Teresa’s “operations manual” for anyone genuinely committed to the spiritual life. But by “perfection” she doesn’t intend the futile pursuit of idealized flawlessness, as some might think. Rather, Teresa means achieving an authentic human fulfillment—a true becoming of that person we are meant to be. Offering a fresh perspective on St. Teresa’s thought, Father Mark O’Keefe draws our attention to the central fact that she considers the virtues—especially love of neighbor, detachment, and humility—as the essential and ever-relevant foundation for her spirituality of prayer. This very human Doctor of the Church teaches that—whether in the 16th century or the 21st— prayer is intimately and necessarily linked with personal transformation. Authentic prayer is never divorced from our daily God, Teresa reminds us, “walks among the pots and pans.” With attention-catching quotations, helpful questions for personal reflection or group discussion, and its comprehensive (fully linked) index, The Way of Transformation is an excellent resource for any serious student of St. Teresa of Jesus and a must-read for everyone looking to explore Christian spirituality and prayer more deeply and authentically.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 12, 2016
13 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 25, 2022
This is the book which those of us in our community of Secular Carmelites (who have made our Definitive Promise) are currently reading for on-going formation.
It is a well-written, clear explanation/synthesis of St. Teresa of Avila’s theology of prayer and the spiritual life.
The author, Mark O’Keefe, O.S.B., while not a Carmelite, has explored Teresa’s works with a focus on moral theology, combining aspects of mystical and ascetical theology, something rarely done anymore.
For Teresa, there is no separating the two. She was certainly a mystic, but she also had a deep, abiding friendship with the LORD, Jesus, and all healthy relationships come with the price tag of virtuous lives.
This is no light read for all that it seems to be an easy read. It can be read by a beginner, certainly, on one level, but it can also be read by someone more familiar with the Doctor of Prayer wishing to ‘go deeper’. It would be a good companion book to read alongside either The Way of Perfection or Interior Castle.
It is a well-written, clear explanation/synthesis of St. Teresa of Avila’s theology of prayer and the spiritual life.
The author, Mark O’Keefe, O.S.B., while not a Carmelite, has explored Teresa’s works with a focus on moral theology, combining aspects of mystical and ascetical theology, something rarely done anymore.
For Teresa, there is no separating the two. She was certainly a mystic, but she also had a deep, abiding friendship with the LORD, Jesus, and all healthy relationships come with the price tag of virtuous lives.
This is no light read for all that it seems to be an easy read. It can be read by a beginner, certainly, on one level, but it can also be read by someone more familiar with the Doctor of Prayer wishing to ‘go deeper’. It would be a good companion book to read alongside either The Way of Perfection or Interior Castle.
November 22, 2019
This brief book touches on the Theology of St. Teresa of Ávila and the importance of the relationship between the life of prayer and the life of virtues. The author reflects on key virtues that St. Teresa focuses on throughout her various writings and in doing so the author presents a solid synthesis to guide the reader towards implementing these insights into their own lives.
October 5, 2016
Here’s a riddle for you: What three virtues are the essential foundation for prayer and also the fruit or outcome of prayer?
You wont miss it if you read and digest this book. I’m just a third of the way through it and I’ve just about wrecked it with ticks, underlines, margin notes etc. Clearly it says much that I need to hear. Dare I say it...a paradigm shift! Actually, the author writes of issues I already know, but haven’t consistently put into practise, but he writes in a compelling style, frequently repeating and stressing the key ideas from St Teresa’s Interior Castle, Way of Perfection, and Life.
179 pages of captivating insights, including a section of questions for reflection/discussion, for example: “In what ways do you think that your life might need to be transformed? What does a ‘new and better’ you look like in the actual circumstances of your life?”
Hmmm! Where do I start?
Even the Foreword by Carmelite, Fr Aloysius Rego OCD, is absorbing and persuasive and merited a good deal of ticking and underlining. It seems my days of neglect are over. It had to come! Definitely a great book...a game changer for me.
You wont miss it if you read and digest this book. I’m just a third of the way through it and I’ve just about wrecked it with ticks, underlines, margin notes etc. Clearly it says much that I need to hear. Dare I say it...a paradigm shift! Actually, the author writes of issues I already know, but haven’t consistently put into practise, but he writes in a compelling style, frequently repeating and stressing the key ideas from St Teresa’s Interior Castle, Way of Perfection, and Life.
179 pages of captivating insights, including a section of questions for reflection/discussion, for example: “In what ways do you think that your life might need to be transformed? What does a ‘new and better’ you look like in the actual circumstances of your life?”
Hmmm! Where do I start?
Even the Foreword by Carmelite, Fr Aloysius Rego OCD, is absorbing and persuasive and merited a good deal of ticking and underlining. It seems my days of neglect are over. It had to come! Definitely a great book...a game changer for me.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews