Teresa of Avila

the book of my life

Teresa of Ávila

Dana Kraft

This gets 4 stars because of it's depth, not because it's a page-turner by any means. I'll confess that I also feel unable to give a book written by an actual saint less than 4 stars. The translation does a good job of not overdoing the 'I'm not worthy' parts and keeping the language accessible.

I've read a few books about saints and am always tempted to want to imitate their experience, which of course is impossible. As this book makes clear, that path comes from God, not from your own desire to follow it. And everyone's path is different. A few questions, thoughts and quotes that stick with me from reading this:

What am I giving to God and how can I give more?
"The problem is, we think we are giving all that we have to God when all we are offering him is the interest (or the fruit) while withholding the capital (or the orchard itself)." p. 71
"May what I have said serve to inspire you to let go of the things of this world."

I've been reading a lot, hoping that my mind can help me find a way to better connect with God. I need to find a way to quiet my mind. It won't get me where I want to go in this area.
"All the soul needs to do during these times of quietude is be still and make no noise. What I mean by noise is rushing around with the intellect trying to rustle up reflections fo gratitude and words of praise for the gift you are being given." p. 104
"The will needs to understand, calmly and wisely, that we cannot force God to do what we want. ...But the will should ignore the intellect; the mind is nothing more than a grinding mill at this time." p. 104
"Once the soul launches its search for concepts and starts composing little speeches, she convinces herself that she is doing something important, especially if she comes up with pretty ideas and words to express them." p. 105
"More important things are enfolded in this simple prayer than in a thousand big ideas generated by the intellect." p. 105
"I can’t even tame my wild mind for the time it takes to recite the creed."
"... God is the one who gives us these gifts; we cannot cultivate them independently."
"We think that years of study should yield an understanding that can only come through direct experience." p. 276

I also loved the metaphor of the four waters of prayer - like four ways to get water to help your garden grow.

Teresa of Ávila the book of my life

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