The Way of Perfection

by Teresa de Ávila

St. Teresa of Jesus, also known as St. Teresa of Avila, was a Spanish Carmelite nun in the 16th Century, who became a prominent mystic, writer and monastic reformer. The Way of Perfection is a great classic useful for anyone wishing to develop his or her prayer life. St Teresa divided the book into three sections. The first describing the requirements for detachment, humility and love. In the second section she develops these themes, and the last provides an insightful exploration of the Lord s Prayer. This book will help you to grow in prayer and in faith, as the timeless wisdom of this well-loved Doctor of the Church leads you closer to the loving heart of God our father. The Way of Perfection by Saint Teresa of Jesus, translated by A Discalced Carmelite. This edition has been re-typeset using the text of the 1942 edition originally published by Sands & Co. under the Imprimatur of G. Daly, V.G., Glasgow, 1st July 1942. 6 x 8.25

Genres: Religion, Catholic, Spirituality, Theology, Christianity, Nonfiction, Christian

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1583

About the author

Saint Teresa of Jesús, also called Saint Teresa of Ávila, was a prominent Spanish mystic, Carmelite nun, and writer of the Counter Reformation. She was a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered to be, along with John of the Cross, a founder of the Discalced Carmelites. In 1970 she was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI.

Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Dávila y Ahumada Borned in Ávila, Spain, on March 28, 1515, St. Teresa was the daughter of a Toledo merchant and his second wife, who died when Teresa was 15, one of ten children. Shortly after this event, Teresa was entrusted to the care of the Augustinian nuns. After reading the letters of St. Jerome, Teresa resolved to enter a religious life. In 1535, she joined the Carmelite Order. She spent a number of relatively average years in the convent, punctuated by a severe illness that left her legs paralyzed for three years, but then experienced a vision of "the sorely wounded Christ" that changed her life forever.

From this point forward, Teresa moved into a period of increasingly ecstatic experiences in which she came to focus more and more sharply on Christ's passion. With these visions as her impetus, she set herself to the reformation of her order, beginning with her attempt to master herself and her adherence to the rule. Gathering a group of supporters, Teresa endeavored to create a more primitive type of Carmelite. From 1560 until her death, Teresa struggled to establish and broaden the movement of Discalced or shoeless Carmelites. During the mid-1560s, she wrote the Way of Perfection and the Meditations on the Canticle. In 1567, she met St. John of the Cross, who she enlisted to extend her reform into the male side of the Carmelite Order. Teresa died in 1582.

St. Teresa left to posterity many new convents, which she continued founding up to the year of her death. She also left a significant legacy of writings, which represent important benchmarks in the history of Christian mysticism. These works include the Way of Perfection and the Interior Castle. She also left an autobiography, the Life of St. Teresa of Ávila.

Reviews

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read, The Way of Perfection, whether it be this Study Guide edition, translated and prepared by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD, the regular edition translated by the same but without the brief chapter synopses and Interpretive Notes, other translations—the best is by Edgar Allison Peers—even if I just dip one toe in a page, I come away refreshed. TWoP does not get enough credit or wide enough readership for all the gems it holds.

Yes, Teresa has the prejudices of her time, and she meanders, which is why I recommend this Study Guide edition especially to anyone unfamiliar with her writings. But it is so good for showing all that she was up against in 16th Century Inquisition Spain, in an almost entirely male-dominated church that I think anyone with the least bit of an open mind, will be able to overlook these flaws. That she was able to write and do all she did was a bigger miracle than the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Before she died, she was the head of a growing order of women and men and had bishops asking for her blessing.

With a book named, The Way of Perfection, one might wonder if Teresa achieved the perfection she wrote about? To this question, she would answer with a resounding, “No! Only My Se·ñor (My Lord) is perfect!” But that does not excuse us from walking His path, the ‘Way of Perfection’, which she outlines for us in this book. She does not offer any easy answers, just very clear ones: Love, Detachment and Humility ... and Prayer, of course. She is, after all, the first female Doctor of the Church and known as the Doctor of Prayer. This is The Year of Prayer.

(One more thing, Teresa did not give this book its name because it was never published in her lifetime. The Church hierarchy moved as slowly then, if not more so, than it does now, and her writings were still under review upon her death. Teresa never wrote for her own enjoyment. Every book she ever wrote was under direction, i.e., she was ordered to write it by a confessor and/or spiritual director. She hated writing and would rather have been spinning with her sisters or communing with her Lord.)

In Chapter 4, Teresa tells us there are three kinds of love: excessive, mixed and spiritual. The last two are virtuous involving a friendship based on likeness. Excessive love is dominated by an affection based on natural graces. Virtuous love is directed toward helping one another love God more. Spiritual love is a virtuous love that does not stir our feelings of affection; mixed love is a virtuous love accompanied by feelings of affection which she does not go into. Instead, she gives a beautiful description of spiritual love which recognizes God as it’s source, ultimate purpose and strength. It is the selfless love which most mirrors the Love Jesus has for us.

In Chapters 8 and 9, she explains that detachment is letting go of all that stands in the way of giving oneself to God without reserve; in it one embraces the Creator rather than the creature, cares not for what comes to an end but for eternal things. Teresa recognizes that we have to practice outward detachment before total abandonment can be achieved.

Teresa talks about humility throughout the book, and her other books. In fact, one of her famous quotes is also an example of how she ties the three virtues together, ‘Humility drew the King from heaven to the womb of the Blessed Virgin. The one who has more humility will be the one who possesses him more. There can be no humility without love; nor the two of them without detachment.’

Teresa explains Mental Prayer, the Prayer of Quiet and the Prayer of Recollection. She also gives invaluable insights into Mortification which were ahead of her time. She took the middle road when it came to penances, sickness and suffering. While unlike St. John of the Cross, she was not in favor of extreme self-imposed penances, she also wrote, ‘Be determined, Sisters, that you came to die for Christ, not to live comfortably for Christ.’ She detested malingerers.

After teaching her sisters (and us!) how we need to approach prayer, she proceeds to her famous catechesis on the Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father. This needs to be read to be appreciated, but I will share some of my favorite passages below this review in the quotes. There are SO many!

This is a phenomenal book! I am told that Teresa of Avila: The Book of Her Foundations: A Study Guide is also excellent and the least read of her books, so I am beginning that next. It’s 14 pages longer than this book, which is no skinny sister at 532 pages.


December 4, 2023: Reading up in anticipation of next year's assignments. This is probably my most thorough read as I am reading, rereading, highlighting interspersed with listening to the audio version and reading other works by and about Teresa. Updating as I go...


August 15, 2016: I don’t know how many times I’ve read The Way of Perfection--which doesn’t seem so much like a book as a conversation, albeit one-way. Teresa wrote this for her sisters, so her voice is warmly familiar, at times consoling, then chiding, admonishing but in a loving maternal manner.

This was my first opportunity to read it using the Institute of Carmelite Studies (ICS) Edition Study Guide. If you really want to understand the text, I cannot recommend this guide enough. Each chapter contains the original text followed by a brief outline of the material, Interpretative Notes (my favorite part!) and 3 or 4 group study questions.

The Interpretive Notes were the most helpful feature of the book. They included everything from the historical* and contextual setting of the text; biographical info about Teresa; cross-referencing to Teresa’s other works; explanations of obscure passages; biographical info about St. John Of the Cross and other important figures in Teresa’s life as well as references to any of their writings which influenced her, such as Francisco de Osuna’s Third Spiritual Alphabet, one of her favorite and formative books, a popular devotional of that era.

The downside of reading The Way of Perfection this way is the lack of flow. You lose something of what I call the intimacy of ‘Teresa’s voice’. However, for those who complain about my dear Teresa, that she is disorganized or goes off on ramblings, then this is the way you need to read her. Fr. Kieran Kavanaugh has made it his life’s work to know Teresa and he explains her beautifully here.

Personally I think her ‘rambling’ was good subterfuge. Brilliant as she undoubtedly was, had she been hyper-organized as well, she would have been altogether too much for the men of her time. Her poor-pitiful-me-look-how-poorly-I-write is probably what has allowed her writings to come to us! No doubt she would hate me writing that! Forgive me dear Sister-in-faith, but I am allowed to compliment you even if humility forbids you from claiming this for yourself. ☺

One last thing, if you have never read this book, and you love The Our Father, then you must read it! Teresa believed that anyone could become a contemplative just by learning to pray this prayer correctly. And she sets out line by line, almost word by word, to teach her sisters (and us!) how to do it. PERFECTION!


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July 15, 2016: In Chapter 33 Teresa writes: 'I have noticed how in this petition alone he repeats the words: first he says and asks the Father to give us this daily bread, and then repeats, "give it to us this day, Lord," invoking the Father again. It's as though Jesus tells the Father that he is now ours since the Father has given him to us to die for us; and asks that the Father not take him from us until the end of the world; that he allow him to serve each day. May this move your hearts...' It moved mine the other day in Adoration.

May 15, 2016: While Teresa is not the most organized of writers she is one of the most vivid, which I find to be compensatory, at least insofar as she gives me visual landmarks, sometimes analogies, other times principles or concepts, memorable quotes, new ways of seeing. She is never dull. We continue to read at the pace of seven chapters each month but when I'm finished with the group I want to go back and outline the book on my own.

Apr 11, 2016: Although I’ve read Teresa’s great work several times, this is my first chance to study it in a group setting using this Study Edition. And although this book comes up as identical to the original text, the Study Edition contains important additions (Summary, Interpretive Notes and Questions at the end of each chapter) which the regular text does not have.

As a (novice) Secular Carmelite I’m in a group of 4 who are reading this over the next few months. We reading at a rate of 7 chapters a month. When we meet, we only read the Summary, Interpretive Notes and Questions for Discussion for each chapter. We’re supposed to have read the entire text before we meet. So far we’ve never managed to cover all 7 chapters in a setting due to lack of time. Yet considering the quality of our group discussions, the people in the group and our leader, I wouldn’t change a thing.


*This is important because Teresa lived during the Protestant Reformation, and she is guilty of the prejudice of the age. She speaks of the Lutherans in ways which sound harsh to our ears but were quite acceptable for her era.

The 2015 read was actually an audio listen and the 2007-2008 read was from the Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila (Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila) Vol.2.

June 26, 2025: Review amended for small grammatical errors.

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all Catholics.

[Brodolomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sveta Tereza je napisala „Put savršenstva” u jeku sukoba vezanih za njeno osnivanje reda karmelićanki u rimokatoličkoj crkvi. Svrha teksta je bila da posluži kao vodič u molitvi sa savetima i upustvima drugim monahinjama kako kroz molitvu da se dostigne duhovno savršenstvo. Tereza je tekst sastavila, kako piše, na zahtev svojih starešina i drugih kaluđerica i pisala ga je odvajajući vreme tokom noći, posle dugih i napornih putovanja, ali i teških pregovora oko osnivanja novih manastira u punom jeku kontrareformacije, osnivanja inkvizicije i krvavo stroge odluke Španije da u vreme evropskog pokolja protestanata i rimokatolika ta zemlja ostane bastion papskog hrišćanstva.

Iako sam gajio zadršku prema ovakvom tipu teksta, smatrajući da on nema bog zna šta posebno da mi ponudi, ispostavilo se da skoro pet vekova kasnije „Put Savršenstva” može da se dojmi kao fascinatna knjiga o erotici i ljubavi. Ako se Bog odabere za ljubavnika tj. Hrist za mističnog Ženika, onda smo svedoci najkomplikovanijeg odnosa ljubavnog para; zaljubljeni nikada ne vidi svog partnera, idealizuje ga u savršenstvo, ljubljeni je surov i milostiv, traži neprestano odricanje i samodisciplinu, a bogme, on se mora i deliti sa ostalim zaljubljenicima. Stroga askeza dovodi u snažno stanje ekstaze, a u ovom slučaju zadovoljstvo ekstaze se prelilo na tekst u vidu ubedljivih I začudnih metafora, te i čitalac može da se opije njihovim odjekom. Kako kaže Tereza, nije dovoljno poznavati u partiji šaha kako se kreću figure, već se ljubljeni kralj mora matirati na neočekivani način. Jedna o neobičnijih knjiga koje sam pročitao.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely rate a book five stars, but this one certainly deserves the rating. The Way of Perfection
by St Teresa of Avila is probably one her easier books to read. She wrote it for her sisters, but there is much for the lay man or woman to take from it as well.
The majority of the book focuses on the saint's treatise of the Our Father.She calls it the prayer of perfect contemplation.
Within the context of the petitions of this prayer, she teaches many lessons on praying the prayer itself, on avoiding temptation as well as how to endure temptation.
In speaking about the petition: Give us this day our daily bread..., she imparts her saintly wisdom on how it is that we should receive Holy Communion~ our Daily Bread.
The one point that has stayed with me throughout the book is that when we pray this prayer given to us by Jesus Himself, we should do so at the side of the One who gave it to us. The Our Father is such a common and often said prayer, it is easy to say it without actually praying it. Putting ourselves in Jesus' presence when we do can help us to pray it rather than say it.
If you have had difficulty with St Teresa's other writings, or have been a bit hesitant in picking up one of her books, I highly recommend The Way of Perfection. There are several translations, but I found this one by E. Allison Peers to be very straightforward. She also includes footnotes throughout cross referencing the original Spanish text of the saint as well as other translations.
The Way of Perfection is in my humble opinion, a wonderful aid to prayer.

[Magnus Itland · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Way of Perfection" is written for younger nuns, St Teresa's spiritual daughters as she thought of them. It is personal, informal and humble. The saint has been told that some people are wary of mysticism and contemplation, so she teaches her fellow nuns how to go about their ordinary vocal prayers with layer upon layer of depth and meaning which they can use if they are afraid of the wordless contemplation (what we today often call meditation.)

I am not a Catholic, but I can not doubt that Teresa is a genuine saint; her words reliably draw me inward toward the inner Kingdom of Heaven, away from the thousand distractions of the world and the mind. Through this spring, I have read a bit of her book most days on the commute to work. I think of it as my "probiotic supplement for the soul." I am a little sad to see the book come to an end, but if I live I should be able to reread it every few years. It is that kind of book.

Until recently, I only knew St Teresa from some random mention in a scientific magazine. When I began to read her books, I was amazed. It was like finding a collection of letters from a wise and gentle older sister, who had understood many things that I had yet not. I found myself wishing I had read this while I was young. But I would probably not have understood it then. Humility was not exactly my forte back then, even compared to now. (Reading a book called "The Way of Perfection" is pretty much what people would expect from me, I'm afraid.)

I would only recommend this book to those who already have a longing for things eternal. I should find it unseemly to show a book with such warm spiritual familiarity to those who would mock the heart she bares here. But although there are some references to Catholicism in particular, I would not say it is required to be part of a particular denomination or order to benefit from this book.

[María Carpio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teresa de Jesús o Santa Teresa de Ávila fue la primera mujer en ser proclamada Doctora de la Iglesia en 1970, por Pablo VI. Quizás tuvieran algo que ver las reformas que unos cinco años antes había planteado el Concilio Vaticano II, y la idea de adaptar el catolicismo a las necesidades y métodos de los nuevos tiempos. Estaba en pleno auge la segunda ola del Feminismo, no obstante, aún podríamos quitar todas estas referencias coyunturales y dejar la pura experiencia teresiana como una postura de avanzada acerca de los derechos de las mujeres de la vida religiosa. Y es que esto es lo que Teresa de Jesús deja claro en este libro escrito entre 1564 y 1567 por petición de su guía espiritual y confesor, como respuesta a la petición de sus hermanas de congregación, las Carmelitas descalzas, quienes buscaban a su vez una guía espiritual y doctrinal dentro del convento y Teresa era la indicada como fundadora de la orden. Siendo la superiora, aunque esa posición ella deja claro que no le interesa como título ni como reverencia, ya que proclama la humildad como una de las enseñanzas más importantes de Cristo. Respecto al valor literario, sociológico, teológico y doctrinal de esta obra, éste ya se ha estudiado bastante, pero quizás lo más resaltable es precisamente esa voluntad de abrir los espacios intelectuales y de conocimiento a las mujeres dentro de las órdenes religiosas. En aquellos tiempos algunas prácticas les estaban vetadas por considerarlas no aptas para aquello, y eran justamente las que se referían a la preparación cultural e intelectual de las mujeres. Por ejemplo, la oración mental, parte fundamental de este tratado informal, como también se podría describir a esta obra. ¿Por qué no estaban permitidas las mujeres de hacer oración mental? Pues porque estaba destinada sólo para espíritus ilustrados y quien no lo fuera, podría caer en desviaciones doctrinales y herejéticas. No olvidemos que la Santa Inquisición estaba en plena actividad en esta época. Pero Teresa de Ávila se enfrentó con determinación, aún soportando censura (este mismo libro tiene párrafos tachados y corregidos por su revisor, los cuales volvió a escribir como muestra de obediencia, pero en esta edición se pueden leer las partes originales de esos textos, que se llaman Códice de El Escorial) y logró que se reforme el espíritu de la Orden del Carmelo y se favorezca la oración mental y sus formas más depuradas como lo son la oración de quietud, la de recogimiento y la de contemplación. Estos tipos de oración los desarrolla explicativamente en varios capítulos del tratado, y sobre todo el tema de la contemplación, al que describe como un don otorgado para las almas más elevadas (más cercanas a Dios, por lo tanto las que más trabajos pasan), así que consuela a sus hermanas a no apenarse por no llegar a los niveles contemplativos porque cada quién tiene su función. Habla también de la importancia de la oración vocal que debe estar siempre unida a la atención y evitar distracciones (para la santa, la oración vocal no puede ir sola sino acompañada de la mental), y de las vocaciones activas y contemplativas. A ambas les da importancia poniendo el ejemplo evangélico de María y Marta (María, contemplativa, Marta, activa), aunque este ejemplo, como varias analogías y alegorías con las que gráfica sus ideas fueron eliminadas de la versión final. No obstante, el códice de El Escorial sobrevive y se puede leer en los pies de página de esta edición todo lo que se le eliminó, como partes en las que se le "iba la olla" a la santa, partes demasiado feministas, partes muy coloquiales y personales, ya que aunque fue escrito para sus hermanas de congregación, la idea final es que fuera un texto más formal y general. Finalmente, hace un repaso del Padrenuestro (quizás como rescate de la oración considerada para los simples y de poca cultura, así como el Ave María, del que no llega a hablar porque ya se alargó con lo otro y "no le dio tiempo", tomando en cuenta que en esa epoca la mayoría de la gente era analfabeta o iletrada o no tenía acceso al conocimiento y a los libros), a la que dota de una cualidad de suficiencia y compendio de todo lo que es la fe y de lo que necesita una persona para entender la fe y la divinidad. Con su desglose frase por frase en cada capítulo (me recuerda, salvando las distancias, a lo que hace Joseph Ratzinger con el Credo de los Apóstoles en Introducción al Cristianismo), Santa Teresa de Ávila deja claro cuál es ese "camino de perfección" que quien se entrega a una vida consagrada debe seguir. Por último, no podemos olvidar el valor literario de la escritura de Santa Teresa, aunque tenga un tono "desconcertado" (así lo repite varias veces, con lo cual se refiere a sin concierto, sin mucho orden o estructura), que viene más de la lengua oral que de la escrita, en cierto modo, un habla coloquial, pero que como estamos hablando del siglo XVI, tenía otro tipo de expresiones idiomáticas, incluso la morfología de ciertas palabras cambia, así como conjugaciones, ortografía y varias reglas gramaticales, por lo que no es un castellano muy fácil de seguir. Se puede decir que es mucho más indirecto y da muchas más vueltas retóricas que el castellano de hoy en día. Pero aún así, la pluma de Teresa de Jesús es totalmente literaria, utiliza muchísimas figuras literarias y retóricas (varias fueron borradas por excesivas) y una pluma graciosamente "desconcertada", que deja ver la enorme y peculiar personalidad de la santa y mística.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The funny thing about this book is that technically it should not be a good book at all. The writing is rather rambling, the author loses her train of thought and backtracks a lot, the sentences are long and loopy, etc. Yet it is a great book! Once I started reading I simply got pulled along as if by a strong current. I could not put the book down or even think of anything else. An amazing experience!

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The heart of this book is St. Theresa's explanation of the Our Father (Paternoster)and how it can guide you in prayer, from vocal prayer to contemplation. St. Theresa is an excellent writer whose humility makes her discussion of prayer simple to follow, if not practice. Her humor comes through the more you read her works.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saint Teresa of Avila's classic work on the spiritual life, concentrating on avoiding worldly distractions and earnest prayer. Very simple but also very powerful.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

(2017) This was my second time reading this book cover to cover. It's so rich it's impossible to take it all in at once. It really works best studying small passages at a time and letting them digest before moving on. This is one of the best books ever written on the spiritual life; and I don't say that just because I'm a Carmelite. St. Teresa transcended boundaries. She is rightly a Doctor of the Church. Follow her paths honestly and truthfully and you can't help but become a saint.

(2013 review) This is a good introduction to St Teresa, and a good explanation of the types of prayer, and the Paternoster. It was an enjoyable read.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the type of book I can read over and over. St. Teresa is a Doctor in the Catholic Church and so her writings teach something special. I have read this book before but I think the Audio method is even better. It is like her standing there and explaining how to pray. This book is all one needs to really learn what prayer really is all about and how to do it. I know of know other book that will help one reach perfection through prayer as this one does.

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having read Interior Castles, I found this one to be a bit slow going, at first. However, once I pushed forward, I found that this was, once again, a well-written explanation of the contemplative life. Using the Lord's Prayer as the foundation, she takes the reader through the process of prayer as well as the purpose. Even though I find her continuous self-doubt (or excusing herself for being a mere woman) to be a bit tiring, the message itself is incredibly moving.

[Evandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Não tenho como dizer nada de um livro como este, quanto ao seu conteúdo. Na falta, então, de habilidade para falar sobre um conteúdo tão absurdamente insondável e, ao mesmo tempo, tão claro e verdadeiro, limito-me a dizer que a tradução é quase uma obra de arte; se a obra de arte já não fosse o original. Foi um prazer ler esta tradução, uma das mais fluidas e belas com que eu já me deparei! Agora, resta-me assistir ao curso do Pe. Paulo Ricardo, para tentar processar melhor na cabeça ao menos alguns dos pontos principais tratados na obra. A meta de leitura deste livro, que foi apresentada na primeira aula como requisito para prosseguir no curso, acabou-se tornando uma pequena epopéia em meio às distrações do dia a dia. Demorei muito mais do que deveria para terminar a leitura, ora por estar distraído com outros afazeres, ora por não querer que o livro acabasse, de tão bom.

[Diego Sanz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seguro que me falta madurez en cosas de la fe y una edición con una versión más actualizada del castellano así que tendré que releerlo en el futuro. Aún así pude sacar cosas para mi día a día, progresar un poco más e incluso darme cuenta de errores que llevaba mientras Santa Teresa me iba transmitiendo sin darme cuenta una pequeña parte de su entusiasmo y fe

[Joaquin Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

St. Teresa of Avila's The Way of Perfection was addressed to Carmelite sisters during the time when she and St. John of the Cross were trying to reform the Carmelite order. Although written for an audience that lived more than a hundred years ago, this book continues to remain relevant. I am not a priest or religious but I still found the book really striking. I think I would recommend this book to all Catholics.

The closing chapters of the book are St. Teresa's reflections on the Our Father given to Christians by Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. They are wonderful reflections on the prayer. They really made me appreciate the Our Father more. I will turn to it again and again, I believe even if I have already marked the book as finished in Goodreads. St. Teresa's insights are just so wonderful.

I recommend this book to all Catholics because it is somewhat easier to read than other spiritual classics. I am so glad to have finally read this book. I will be reading more books by Carmelites in the future.

[David Huff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book by a 16th Century Carmelite nun, written to give spiritual instruction to the younger nuns under her care in a Spanish convent. Found on most every "spiritual classics" list, it still speaks today -- centuries later -- with much insight on prayer, humility, Christian community, and spiritual growth.

While Teresa often rambles and digresses, it's never without purpose, and the deep humility of her own heart is easy to discern. Her topics progress from loving one another and living in community, to important ideas on both verbal prayer and contemplation (silent prayer and/or meditation), to an extended and detailed discourse on the Lord's Prayer. Along the way, she even offers a clever spiritual simile based on the game of chess!

Most readers may find the context (a convent) and certain theological views somewhat unfamiliar, but the truths that are here, about the deeper Christian life, are worth the exploration. A unique, but memorable, read.

[Anne Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational

I started reading this to learn more about the author. Then joined a group discussing the book. If you are searching for knowledge about St. Teresa of Avila this might be a good place to start.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written for her fellow sisters in the convent. I enjoyed the section on the Our Father and the description of the 3 types of prayer.

[Jenny Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some amazing things in this book, but I still found it super slow going. It was a bit unorganized, but the insights into the spiritual life were indeed worth the effort.

[Fr. Daniel Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saint Teresa of Avila is well known for her mysticism and spirituality. But she is also a very realistic, sensible, and down-to-earth writer. Her advice in The Way of Perfection seems to cut to the heart and be relevant to her readers. I found myself thinking "this is exactly what I need to hear right now" more than once.

Since I have been reading this book over a period of 4-5 months, it would be hard for me to summarize the book. The later chapters go through the "Our Father" prayer and discuss it in great depth. For nothing else, these chapters made me think much more about the words that I pray at least 3 times each day.

She also speaks greatly about love for others, detachment from things, and humility, among other subjects. She gives great examples and uses wonderful metaphors to portray her message about achieving perfection. Most of all, she shows how holy she truly was, despite her self-berating. Her words come from a true humility that acknowledges her gifts but also endures a perpetual understanding and suffering of her sinfulness commonly known to saints.

This book spoke to my soul and I would recommend it to anyone serious about introspection and finding the true way to perfection. It is not a book to be read over a week's time. I only read around a chapter or two each time I picked up the book because it was so much to think about. Reading this prayerfully helped me to really look at myself and find my greatest failings.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has two parts. In the first part, Teresa of Avila talks to the nuns in her convent about living in community. The second part, which I found the most profitable, was her exposition on the Lord's Prayer. She grabbed me from the first moment when she said to think about all that is implied in the first two words, that Jesus begins with "Our Father" rather than "My Father."

Some of her thoughts that I particularly liked: "The topsy-turviness of this world is terrible."

"For anyone to whom the Lord has really given His Kingdom to no longer wants a kingdom in this world, knowing that he is going the right way to reign in a more exalted manner, and having already discovered by experience what great benefits the soul gains and what progress it makes when it suffers for God's sake."

"Try then, sisters, to be as pleasant as you can, without offending God, and to get on well as you can with those you have to deal with, so that they may like talking to you and want to follow your way of life and conversation, and not be frighted and put off by virtue."

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all. Teresa from back in the 1500s is still as modern as if written today. This is truly a classic on the practice of prayer. She has a very unique way of leading one along the way of prayer, one that is easy to read but not always that easy to put into practice. It is a book to be read and reread again and again. It really does help one to pray.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.
I feel bad that I didn't love this because it was written by a Doctor of the Church and saint, but good heavens it was disorganized. Great thoughts, lots of underlining done, some beautiful passages, etc. I definitely think it was well worth the read, but good Lord it would have greatly benefited from a proper editor!

[Yee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read another version of this book, and didn't manage to complete it. The text is not easily accessible. One gets lost by the time one gets to the Fifth Room. It's too mystical; one doesn't know what Saint Teresa is talking about. It starts to just make no sense.

[zaK young · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you notice something in someone else's behavior that needs changing; instead of correcting that person, try to emphasize the opposite traits in your own behavior.

[Erik]

Included in the "Spiritual Classics" section of Fr. John McCloskey's 100-book Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan.

[Shawn Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for anyone who calls themselves a 'prayer warrior'. Kind of complex, but if you read 10 pages a day...I think you will notice some things happening within yourself....:) check it ot!!

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The essence of the book is St. Teresa teaching her young nuns how to love to pray. I found the second half of the book a good lesson for all on how to pray and avoid distractions.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed the audio book and it was returned before I could finish it and then I had to wait a few weeks to get it back.

It is fascinating to think this book was written in the 16th century and I loved how sincere and ardent Teresa De Avila was.

I found it interesting to compare her ideas about prayer and God with what I learned from my religion and my religious experiences.

My favorite part came at the end when she describes in more detail the space where you merge with God and how to get there and remain.

[Uhhmainduhmeh · Rating 2 out of 5]

On one hand, it's inherently fraught to evaluate someone else's letters. And in the cultural moment we find ourselves in, it isn't wise to denigrate anyone of any time's sincere efforts toward Christlikeness, misguided or otherwise.

On the other hand, nuns do be trippin.