They don't write 'em like they used to. The writings of St. Teresa have meant so much to me over the last couple of years; her honesty, humility, and charity are a balm to those who, like me, often chafe at the hubris that characterizes so much of contemporary spiritual writing. "Few tasks which I have been commanded to undertake by obedience have been so difficult as this present one of writing about matters relating to prayer," she writes. "for one reason, because I do not feel that the Lord has given me either the spirituality or the desire for it; for another, because for the last three months I have been suffering from such noises and weakness in the head that I find it troublesome to write even about necessary business."

Right off the bat, it's profound humility that gives shape to this most insightful little guide. And as Teresa demonstrates at each stop through the Interior Castle that is the human soul, it's humility that gives shape to the whole of contemplative life. Humility, of course, doesn't consist of self-denigration, but self-knowledge. The whole of this book is an invitation to practice that kind of humility. It's easy, then, to see why Simone DeBeauvoir said of her, "Saint Teresa is one of the only women to have lived the human condition for herself, in total abandonment."

With that in mind, a good deal of what Teresa has to say is quite challenging. If humility is the groundwork on which the Interior Castle is built, complete abandonment to divine will (read: detachment) is the only real means of entry. I wouldn't, therefore, recommend this as introductory text to contemplation (or to the corpus of St. Teresa at all, for that matter). Since Teresa was so fond of Song of Solomon, it's best to heed the Bride's words to the Daughters of Jerusalem: "Do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!"

This book is rich and very dense. I am reading different translations, and listened to the audio as well. Little by little, its wisdom sinks in.

I'm not sure how to rate a book like this, so 5 stars it is! It took me a very long time to finish this, and I needed all the help I could get (hence the study edition). I will be coming back to St. Teresa of Avila over and over again. It was especially beneficial to read this while at adoration.

While reading this book I always sensed Saint Teresa of Avila writing this was an act of pure kindness towards the reader. She writes with a humble spirit but also with great authority. Within the introduction and conclusion she pledged her loyalty to the church. This was done with wisdom or Devine inspiration since some of the mystical concepts were sure to attract attention during the Spanish Inquisition. Once such concept was questioning the soul pre-existing the body as the sunshine brightens the earth while emanating from the sun.

I’m not holy AT ALL. I’m so unholy I can’t even rate this book about holiness. I need to read it again in a few years.

This book took me months to get through. Many of the progressive & mystical Christianity texts I have read refer to this so I wanted to understand what they refer to. It was a chore. I understand the premise but it seemed more like homework than inspirational.