The Interior Castle: Study Edition

by Saint Teresa of Avila, Kieran Kavanaugh (Translator), Otilio Rodriguez (Translator)

Overview

The Interior Castle is considered St. Teresa of Avila's masterpiece. She wrote this last work in just a few months in 1577, five years before her death. At this point in her life she had been granted the highest mystical graces; this book is the fruit of her lived experience and a deep-felt praise of God for it. More than a book, The Interior Castle is a powerful image of the mystery of the human person. It is, in a very real sense, Teresa's soul. Using the image of a castle, Teresa describes the soul's progressive inner journey through seven dwelling places, until finally reaching the center where, now transformed, it is united with God. Reading the works of Teresa herself is indispensable. This second edition has been completely redesigned as a springboard to reading and understanding Teresa's text. The book presents a chapter of The Interior Castle itself, followed by a review of the development of her thought and the principal ideas in each chapter. Interpretive notes after each chapter cover doctrine, history, and sociology. Expanded questions for reflection and/ or discussion conclude each chapter. A glossary of terms offers definitions as well as their specific and sometimes unique meaning in Teresa's writings. Comprehensive indexes of key themes and figures, castle imagery, and biblical references make this volume an indispensable reference resource. With its combination of Teresa's text and modern commentary and notes, The Interior Castle Study Edition demonstrates how Teresa's basic concepts and principles of the spiritual life reflect the church's theological tradition. It also will help contemporary readers to apply these perennially rich teachings to our lives today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781939272805
Publisher:	ICS Publications
Publication date:	12/09/2020
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	496
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

Preface to the Study Edition xv

General Introduction xvii

Prologue 1

Study Guide 4

The First Dwelling Places 7

Chapter 1 Discusses the beauty and dignity of our souls. Draws a comparison in order to explain, and speaks of the benefit that comes from understanding this truth and knowing about the favors we receive from God and how the door to this castle is prayer. 7

Study Guide 14

Chapter 2 Treats of how ugly a soul is when in mortal sin and how God wanted to let a certain person know something about this. Discusses also some matters on the theme of self-knowledge. This chapter is beneficial, for there are noteworthy points. Explains what is meant by these dwelling places 19

Study Guide 31

The Second Dwelling Places 38

Chapter 1 Discusses the importance of perseverance if one is to reach the final dwelling places; the great war the devil wages; and the importance of taking the right road from the beginning. Offers a remedy that has proved very efficacious 38

Study Guide 47

The Third Dwelling Places 54

Chapter 1 Treats of what little security we can have while living in this exile, even though we may have reached a high state, and of how we should walk with fear. This chapter has some good points 54

Study Guide 62

Chapter 2 Continues on the same topic; deals with dryness in prayer; with what, in her opinion, might take place at this stage; how it is necessary to test ourselves; and with the fact that the Lord does try those who are in these dwelling places 67

Study Guide 76

The Fourth Dwelling Places 80

Chapter 1 Discusses the difference between consolations (or feelings of tenderness) in prayer and spiritual delights. Tells of her happiness on learning the difference between the mind and the intellect. This knowledge is very beneficial for anyone who is greatly distracted in prayer 80

Study Guide 89

Chapter 2 Continues on the same subject and explains through a comparison the nature of spiritual delight and how this is attained by not seeking it 97

Study Guide 103

Chapter 3 Deals with the prayer of recollection which for the most part the Lord gives before the prayer just mentioned. Tells about its effects and about those that come from that spiritual delight, given by the Lord, that was discussed in the previous chapter 110

Study Guide 121

The Fifth Dwelling Places 131

Chapter 1 Begins to deal with how the soul is united to God in prayer. Tells how one discerns whether there is any illusion 131

Study Guide 140

Chapter 2 Continues on the same topic. Explains the prayer of union through an exquisite comparison. Tells about the effects it leaves in the soul. The chapter is very important 146

Study Guide 155

Chapter 3 Continues on the same subject. Tells about another kind of union the soul can reach with God's help and of how important love of neighbor is for this union. The chapter is very useful 161

Study Guide 169

Chapter 4 Continues with the same subject, explaining further this kind of prayer. Tells how important it is to walk with care because the devil himself uses a great deal of care in trying to make one turn back from what was begun 176

Study Guide 183

The Sixth Dwelling Places 191

Chapter 1 Discusses how greater trials come when the Lord begins to grant greater favors. Mentions some [trials] and how those who are now in this dwelling place conduct themselves. This chapter is good for souls undergoing interior trials 191

Study Guide 201

Chapter 2 Deals with some of the ways in which our Lord awakens the soul. It seems there is nothing in these awakenings to fear, even though the experience is sublime and the favors are great 207

Study Guide 213

Chapter 3 Deals with the same subject and tells of the manner in which God, when pleased, speaks to the soul. Gives counsel about how one should behave in such a matter and not follow one's own opinion. Sets down some signs for discerning when there is deception and when not. This chapter is very beneficial 219

Study Guide 230

Chapter 4 Treats of when God suspends the soul in prayer with rapture or ecstasy or transport, which are all the same in my opinion, and how great courage is necessary to receive sublime favors from His Majesty 237

Study Guide 247

Chapter 5 Continues on the same subject and deals with a kind of rapture in which God raises up the soul through a flight of the spirit, an experience different from that just explained. Tells why courage is necessary. Explains something about this delightful favor the Lord grants. The chapter is a very beneficial one 256

Study Guide 263

Chapter 6 Tells about an effect of the prayer discussed in the previous chapter. How to understand whether this effect is true rather than deceptive. Discusses another favor the Lord grants so that the soul might be occupied in praising him 268

Study Guide 276

Chapter 7 Discusses the kind of suffering those souls to whom God grants the favors mentioned feel concerning their sins. Tells what a great mistake it is, however spiritual one may be, not to practice keeping the humanity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ present in one's mind; also His most sacred Passion and life, His glorious Mother, and the saints. The chapter is very helpful 281

Study Guide 291

Chapter 8 Discusses how God communicates Himself to the soul through an intellectual vision; gives some counsels. Tells about the effects such a vision causes if it is genuine. Recommends secrecy concerning these favors 303

Study Guide 311

Chapter 9 Treats of how the Lord communicates with the soul through an imaginative vision; gives careful warning against desiring to walk by this path and the reasons for such a warning. The chapter is very beneficial 318

Study Guide 328

Chapter 10 Tells about other favors God grants the soul, in a way different from those just mentioned, and of the great profit that comes from them 334

Study Guide 338

Chapter 11 Treats of some desires God gives the soul that are so powerful and vehement they place it in danger of death. Treats also of the benefits caused by this favor the Lord grants 343

Study Guide 351

The Seventh Dwelling Places 357

Chapter 1 Treats of the great favors God grants souls that have entered the seventh dwelling places. Tells how in her opinion there is a certain difference between the soul and the spirit, although the soul is all one. The chapter contains noteworthy doctrine 357

Study Guide 364

Chapter 2 Continues on the same subject. Explains the difference between spiritual union and spiritual marriage. Describes this difference through some delicate comparisons 372

Study Guide 380

Chapter 3 Deals with the wonderful effects of this prayer that was mentioned. It Is necessary to pay attention and heed to these effects, for the difference between them and the previous ones is remarkable 387

Study Guide 395

Chapter 4 Concludes by explaining what she thinks our Lord's purpose is in granting such great favors to the soul and how it is necessary that Martha and Mary join together. This chapter is very beneficial 401

Study Guide 410

Epilogue 419

Study Guide 422

Glossary 427

Index 439

Biblical Index 453