What do you think?
Rate this book
God Alone Is Enough: A Spirited Journey with Teresa of Avila
No one can teach a Christian to pray, like Teresa can. This lively little book introduces postmodern readers to one of Christianity’s most endearing prayer warriors, and guides them through her most radical teachings. Here, Teresa of Avila is not a lofty, inaccessible saint; she’s a companion, taking readers on a rollicking journey through their own interior castles. The secrets of Teresa’s intimate devotional life are revealed, and readers learn practical ways to abandon complicated contemplative prayer techniques, and simply “enjoy” God.
This journey through the life and writings of Teresa of Avila will engage Christians who would have never before considered encountering a post-Reformation Catholic nun. Mair Burney makes Teresa accessible—and essential—for understanding what it means to come to know God, and how it’s possible.
This journey through the life and writings of Teresa of Avila will engage Christians who would have never before considered encountering a post-Reformation Catholic nun. Mair Burney makes Teresa accessible—and essential—for understanding what it means to come to know God, and how it’s possible.
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
36 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Mair Burney
13 books135 followersClaudia Mair Burney is the author of the novel Zora and Nicky: A Novel in Black and White, as well as the Amanda Bell Brown Mysteries and the Exorsista series for teens. Her work has appeared in Discipleship Journal magazine, The One Year Life Verse Devotional Bible, and Justice in the Burbs. She lives in Michigan with her husband, five of their seven children, and a quirky dwarf rabbit.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 19, 2010
As a life-long Protestant, I don't exactly comprehend the concept of Catholic saints. I understand how they are used, but I was taught that all believers are saints. Even so, I've often been interested in the amazing life stories of these colorful historical figures, but have never read about them because I didn't know where to start and how to separate mythology from religion. If any other author had written a quasi-biography/spiritual study of St. Teresa of Avila, I wouldn't have given it a second look, but when it was Claudia Mair Burney writing it, I knew that this was a book I had to read. Mair, as her friends call her, is a true prayer warrior and has written some of the most powerful books I've ever read; books that made me look at Catholicism is a completely new way. Zora & Nicky and Wounded both left me aching for days. Not only is her writing superb, but the faith in her books breaks my heart. I want to know Jesus and love him like Mair does. God Alone is Enough: A Spirited Journey with St. Teresa of Avila seemed like an opportunity to see inside her faith.
Shortly before receiving the book, the Lord opened my heart and eyes to a new depth of prayer with him, so my heart was already primed to learn about contemplative prayer and the inner rooms of my heart. I expected to learn about an interesting saint and to understand a bit more about Mair's faith. I didn't expect to have my entire prayer life renewed.
Teresa seems like a lively and intelligent woman who was constantly analyzing her prayer life in order to encourage others to the heights she had seen with God. She uses simple metaphors like gardens and water fountains to bring enlightenment to readers. All of this is told through Mair's wry and always loving writing. The fifth chapter taught me so much! I often feel guilty if I'm too exhausted or in pain at the end of the day to engage in deep prayer with the Lord, but Mair reminded me that God is completely aware of my troubles, and if I'm just too wiped out on occasion, he understands and won't punish me for it. It was also in the fifth chapter that I experienced once of the deepest most moving prayer times I've ever had in my entire life. Mair lists Teresa's steps to prayer including privacy, begging, and keeping Jesus always in mind. The one step that jumped my prayer life to the next level however, was imagining Jesus right with me as I pray. I know that Jesus is always with me, and when I pray, I am most certainly praying to him, but I have never before imagined him as sitting at the end of my bed, holding my hands, and listening to my prayer with a smile across his beautiful face. Mair then instructed me to say the Lord's Prayer out loud while following those instructions. I could barely squeak the words out, and the tears ran like rain down my face. I've said the Lord's Prayer hundreds, if not thousands, of times in my life, but never before have I truly experienced the Presence of God with me while saying those old words.
There is so much wisdom and beauty in this book, even though I am done reading it, I will never be truly finished reading it. It's going on the short list of books that I reread on a yearly basis. This is a book that will truly shake up your prayer life and give a new appreciation for St. Teresa who lived over 500 years ago.
Shortly before receiving the book, the Lord opened my heart and eyes to a new depth of prayer with him, so my heart was already primed to learn about contemplative prayer and the inner rooms of my heart. I expected to learn about an interesting saint and to understand a bit more about Mair's faith. I didn't expect to have my entire prayer life renewed.
Teresa seems like a lively and intelligent woman who was constantly analyzing her prayer life in order to encourage others to the heights she had seen with God. She uses simple metaphors like gardens and water fountains to bring enlightenment to readers. All of this is told through Mair's wry and always loving writing. The fifth chapter taught me so much! I often feel guilty if I'm too exhausted or in pain at the end of the day to engage in deep prayer with the Lord, but Mair reminded me that God is completely aware of my troubles, and if I'm just too wiped out on occasion, he understands and won't punish me for it. It was also in the fifth chapter that I experienced once of the deepest most moving prayer times I've ever had in my entire life. Mair lists Teresa's steps to prayer including privacy, begging, and keeping Jesus always in mind. The one step that jumped my prayer life to the next level however, was imagining Jesus right with me as I pray. I know that Jesus is always with me, and when I pray, I am most certainly praying to him, but I have never before imagined him as sitting at the end of my bed, holding my hands, and listening to my prayer with a smile across his beautiful face. Mair then instructed me to say the Lord's Prayer out loud while following those instructions. I could barely squeak the words out, and the tears ran like rain down my face. I've said the Lord's Prayer hundreds, if not thousands, of times in my life, but never before have I truly experienced the Presence of God with me while saying those old words.
There is so much wisdom and beauty in this book, even though I am done reading it, I will never be truly finished reading it. It's going on the short list of books that I reread on a yearly basis. This is a book that will truly shake up your prayer life and give a new appreciation for St. Teresa who lived over 500 years ago.
May 31, 2019
I struggled through this one. I think the content was good but I had a hard time finishing the book. I think it was the style or the tone the author used. I just didn’t connect with it and had a hard time focusing on what I was reading.
July 12, 2017
Suzy, Grottoes patron, July 2017, 5 stars:
Love, love, love this book. It's a delightful commentary on Teresa of Ávila's Interior Castle. Prayer becomes open and free as it draws us into the arms of our loving God. Definitely worth a second reading. Read it in one afternoon.
Love, love, love this book. It's a delightful commentary on Teresa of Ávila's Interior Castle. Prayer becomes open and free as it draws us into the arms of our loving God. Definitely worth a second reading. Read it in one afternoon.
April 12, 2019
Book #2 of my "Spiritual Formation Books from Minority Authors" series.
This book was so far out of the lane I would normally read that I had trouble finishing it; however I appreciated the exercise in sitting with something outside of my comfort zone. The author communicated well, in a conversational and informal style, and I appreciated her method of weaving together a biography of Teresa of Avila with the lessons in spiritual formation she taught.
This book was so far out of the lane I would normally read that I had trouble finishing it; however I appreciated the exercise in sitting with something outside of my comfort zone. The author communicated well, in a conversational and informal style, and I appreciated her method of weaving together a biography of Teresa of Avila with the lessons in spiritual formation she taught.
September 13, 2021
I loved this little book! Claudia Burney makes Teresa accessible and it was a marvelous addition to my prayer life. The imagery of the garden is wonderful. I had always heard of the interior castle, but she presents it in a way that is easily understandable. Not sure I have been in the bridal chamber or even want to go there, but I have a much clearer understanding. This is great for people who want deeper instruction in prayer. It’s an easy read.
April 19, 2022
This book redeemed St. Teresa for me. True confession. 😂
I’d read her autobiography in college, as prep for a study-abroad in Spain…and had some über issues with it (but I’ll freely admit a large part of that was likely due to my own Protestantism and lack of exposure to much outside my bubble). This really helped me to put her and her writings in the appropriate context and frame of reference (and, frankly, in present-day verbiage, lol).
I’d read her autobiography in college, as prep for a study-abroad in Spain…and had some über issues with it (but I’ll freely admit a large part of that was likely due to my own Protestantism and lack of exposure to much outside my bubble). This really helped me to put her and her writings in the appropriate context and frame of reference (and, frankly, in present-day verbiage, lol).
February 4, 2021
Burney presents St Teresa's spirituality through her own life's lens. She uses modern language to express what Teresa said. In many ways, I liked the freshness of the book. I also struggled with some of it, probably because of differences in our theology. It's worth reading & struggling with your own responses.
May 4, 2023
I wanted to like this book far more than I did. I appreciated the author's conversational narrative style, and I was very interested in the life and thoughts of Teresa of Avila. That said, the content was just too ethereal, esoteric, abstruse and enigmatic. I felt like it constantly slipped between my fingers like morning fog.
April 2, 2019
Very helpful guide to prayer that is honest and full of goodness from years and years of experiences. It’s important to keep going back for more with a book like this because it progresses faster than one’s own prayer life. Will be keeping it on my nightstand.
March 11, 2020
An interesting behind-the-scenes look at the life of Teresa of Avila joined with the author's personal experience of following in Teresa's path and her interpretation of Teresa's metaphors of the garden and interior castle.
June 17, 2018
Very beautiful account of a woman's journey towards intimacy with God. Beautifully written. Beautiful poetry. Didn't help me find God, but I can appreciate her experience.
March 14, 2019
I really enjoyed this journey. I had to make sure I didn't rush through but took my time and rested and contemplated along the way.
abandoned
October 9, 2019I am putting this book on hold. Although the writing is good and I am interested in Saint Teresa, now is not the time.
December 26, 2016
Apparently written for a young adult audience, I found the book lacking substance and a bit of a tease. Although the subtitle is 'A Spirited Journey with St. Theresa of Avila,' we never quite get on the path. However, the text provides an excellent backgrounder on the saint, and personal anecdotes from the author.
This book sounds interesting: Francisco de Osuma's The Third Spiritual Alphabet.
Five simple reflections based on Ignatius Loyola's Daily Examen. Do it before bed. Take your time. The only place you're going after this is to sleep.
1) Ask God to be with you
2) Give thanks
3) Take a look at your day, yourself, and Christ present in your life
4) Ask for forgiveness -- I am sorry; I have sinned. This energizes you for the journey
5) Have hope. See another day as bright, shiny and full of possibilities.
John 12:24-25
Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.
Contemplative Listening
Lectio (Read)
Meditatio (Reflect)
Oratio (Respond)
Contemplatio (Rest) Rest in God. Simply 'be with' God. Enjoy God's company. The 'being with' the Beloved is as much a part of the meal as the food itself; it's the difference between dining together and communing.
Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 6
Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon. Truth, peace, and faith are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. Go'd Word is an indispensable weapon. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
St. Teresa's Top Five Reasons to Cease Striving
1. We must love Goad above all and not allow self-interest to motivate us
2. Our services to God are really insignificant
3. The real preparation for these special gifts of sweetness comes from our desire and willingness o suffer as our Beloved suffered
4. We can be set free without our every whim being satisfied
5. Striving for spiritual sweetness is a waste of time. This is not the water you carry yourself. This gift can't be manipulated.
The joy seems to originate not in our hearts, but some deeper part of our inner being.
Humble yourself and stay detached.
This book sounds interesting: Francisco de Osuma's The Third Spiritual Alphabet.
Five simple reflections based on Ignatius Loyola's Daily Examen. Do it before bed. Take your time. The only place you're going after this is to sleep.
1) Ask God to be with you
2) Give thanks
3) Take a look at your day, yourself, and Christ present in your life
4) Ask for forgiveness -- I am sorry; I have sinned. This energizes you for the journey
5) Have hope. See another day as bright, shiny and full of possibilities.
John 12:24-25
Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.
Contemplative Listening
Lectio (Read)
Meditatio (Reflect)
Oratio (Respond)
Contemplatio (Rest) Rest in God. Simply 'be with' God. Enjoy God's company. The 'being with' the Beloved is as much a part of the meal as the food itself; it's the difference between dining together and communing.
Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 6
Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon. Truth, peace, and faith are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. Go'd Word is an indispensable weapon. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
St. Teresa's Top Five Reasons to Cease Striving
1. We must love Goad above all and not allow self-interest to motivate us
2. Our services to God are really insignificant
3. The real preparation for these special gifts of sweetness comes from our desire and willingness o suffer as our Beloved suffered
4. We can be set free without our every whim being satisfied
5. Striving for spiritual sweetness is a waste of time. This is not the water you carry yourself. This gift can't be manipulated.
The joy seems to originate not in our hearts, but some deeper part of our inner being.
Humble yourself and stay detached.
July 20, 2010
I can't remember where I first heard of Claudia Mair Burney but recently her book was reviewed chapter by chapter (be sure to check out some of the other reviews) over the course of a few weeks on various blogs. I was hooked by the very first review of the blog tour. I knew I had to read this book so I added it to my Amazon shopping cart waiting until I had enough books to get free shipping. I continued to read the chapter reviews and was surprised when Claudia emailed me for my address to offer me a copy of her book for reading and reviewing.
Claudia starts out with a chapter long biography of St. Teresa of Avila; I was interested in learning more about Teresa's life as my family spent the night in Avila when we traveled through Spain while living in Germany. We went into a free museum but were unable to fully appreciate it since my high school Spanish was way too rusty. So I was entranced learning about this saint from the walled city of Avila.
Then the book got spiritual and deep which was hard to digest in one reading. I will need to go back and reread this book in smaller bites to fully understand and appreciate the spiritual journey with Teresa. I loved the analogy of the garden and feel it's one that can be appreciated even by those (like myself) without a green thumb.This is not a book to be rushed but rather one in which to linger on a prayer pilgrimage with a saintly woman. I see this as a potential book for our parish's moms' ministry although I wish it had built-in study questions. This book will be staying by my bedside for some time so I can continue to soak up all the wisdom to be found between its pages.
stop by my blog for pics of Avila:
http://reneesuz.blogspot.com/2010/07/...
Claudia starts out with a chapter long biography of St. Teresa of Avila; I was interested in learning more about Teresa's life as my family spent the night in Avila when we traveled through Spain while living in Germany. We went into a free museum but were unable to fully appreciate it since my high school Spanish was way too rusty. So I was entranced learning about this saint from the walled city of Avila.
Then the book got spiritual and deep which was hard to digest in one reading. I will need to go back and reread this book in smaller bites to fully understand and appreciate the spiritual journey with Teresa. I loved the analogy of the garden and feel it's one that can be appreciated even by those (like myself) without a green thumb.This is not a book to be rushed but rather one in which to linger on a prayer pilgrimage with a saintly woman. I see this as a potential book for our parish's moms' ministry although I wish it had built-in study questions. This book will be staying by my bedside for some time so I can continue to soak up all the wisdom to be found between its pages.
stop by my blog for pics of Avila:
http://reneesuz.blogspot.com/2010/07/...
November 29, 2013
"The good works you do are an unmistakeable sign that the favors you've received have come from God." From Claudia Mair Burney's book, God Alone is Enough. This is a "spirited journey with St. Teresa of Avila. A must read for every believer who may have been shaken on their foundation.
May 16, 2019
An enjoyable and eager journey into the interior castle. I appreciated the use of The Message, energetic paraphrases of Teresa’s writings, and the author’s own vivid voice.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews