BIBLION MAGAZINE INTERACTIVE EDITION (EN) #7 / JAN-MAR 2018 | Page 24

SPIRITUALITY HER LIFE IN LETTERS Teresa of Jesus Teresa de Ávila T o Teresa, who is called “of Jesus,” writing was always a part of her instruction, just as reading and culture were, thanks to her parents’ influence; thus she dedicated herself to the vital task of writing. Her works, The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection, are recognized today as fundamental among the medieval classics. IN A COMPILATION of personal letters mostly directed to different recipients, it is tough to maintain a coherent reading with all the variety of themes and subjects. This book is no exception, but those who don’t know Teresa of Ávila can hereby still contemplate her dependence on the Lord to beat the obsta- cles that came across her path. This is rather blatant throughout this work. Split in chapters corresponding to chrono- logical decades in the author’s life, Teresa’s ever deteriorating physical frailty becomes evident, and it often made her ask for help in writing the letters. S T. T E R E S A O F AV I L A , B Y T E R E S A D ’ ÁV I L A . P U B L I S H E D B Y AV E M A R I A P R E S S , N O T R E DA M E , I N - E UA 24 BIBLION #7