Falling Into the Arms of God: Meditations on St. Teresa of Avila

by Megan Don

An intellectual as well as a mystic, St. Teresa of Avila is a beloved figure in Christianity, particularly among women, and often even among non-Christians. Born into Spanish nobility in 1515, she entered the Carmelite monastery in Spain and eventually reformed the way it and the order operated. She was remarkably able to blend a rich mystical inner life with practical work in the secular world - something that inspired modern day Mother Teresa to take her name as her own. Falling into the Arms of God presents key aspects of St. Teresa's life and work in an unparalleled it emphasizes modern interpretation and highlights the practical application of her teachings to the lives of contemporary spiritual seekers. Beginning with a brief introduction to her life, the book features seven meditations taken directly from her writings. Each passage is accompanied by an explanation of what lessons it may hold for today's reader, plus a suggestion for guided meditation.

Genres: Religion

176 pages, Hardcover

First published March 24, 2005

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book. What I loved were the direct quotes from Saint Teresa of Avila and from Teresa's writings in The Interior Castle. I am a solid Catholic and this book was a mixture of Saint Teresa and the author's own meditations. The author seems to be writing not to the Catholic reader as there seems to be New Age language throughout.
I hung in until the end only by focusing on Teresa's quotes. I cannot recommend this book to anyone truly seeking to go deeper into Saint Teresa's spirituality. Instead I would highly recommend Dan Burke's book, The Devil in the Castle. Dan Burke teaches the Interior Castle in a very readable way and includes information from Saint Teresa about the tactics of the enemy to keep one away from moving forward in the spiritual life.

[Mallory Everhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a devotional book I've worked my way through for the last several months. I found it beautifully written but wish it had more substance, especially more direct quotations from Teresa's written work. I also think it deliberately minimized the Christian context Teresa was in, on favor of a broader conceit of mysticism. For that reason, I think it would be a good choice for spiritual seekers wanting to approach the mystics in a gentle way, filtered through a lens and language they are already familiar with.

[Jerry van Veldhoven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Megan Don has made a fine combination of the inspired sayings of Teresa of Avila, her own reflections, and meditations thereon.
If you read this with an open heart and mind it will likely bring you closer to our Creator.
Although there are some reflections which may deviate from christian theology and are even unchristian...if you 'test everything and hold fast what is good' (1 Corinthians 5) this book will most certainly satisfy your soul.

[Julie Ernst · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book of mediations based on St. Teresa of Avila’s writings. She also happens to be one of my favorite saints😇

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Caution: New Age spirituality masquarading as Catholic mysticism. The "advance praise" on the book's back cover from Amy Welborn tricked me into thinking maybe she'd actually read the book.

Here are two excerpts, lest you think I'm making this up:

"Remember, children are wise beings who come straight from God, with their memory of the divine still intact. We would do well to give them room to communicate with us and to listen very carefully to what they are saying. We are blessed when we allow their truth to ignite our own."

"As our society becomes more open to spiritual phenomena we can allow a child's story to help us on our journey. Children see through the eyes of God, and many see beyond the physical realm. A child's imaginary friends are now being recognized as beings from the other worlds--angels, deceased relatives, and so on." p. 23

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much less of Teresa than I was hoping for and a lot more of Megan Doe. So much I can no longer swallow, but a great deal that resonates in the extreme spiritual world. The most surprising is perhaps how down-to-earth Teresa was, how real-world and psychologically apt much of her leadership became.