| Camino de Perfección (The Way of Perfection) |
|
|---|---|
| Author(s) | St. Teresa of Ávila |
| Language | Spanish |
| Subject(s) | Christian mysticism |
| Publication date | 16th century |
El Camino de Perfección (trans.: The Way of Perfection) is a method for making progress in the contemplative life written by St. Teresa of Ávila for the sisters of her reformed convent of the Carmelite Order (Discalced). St. Teresa was a major figure of the Catholic Reformation in 16th Century Spain, and eventually was named the Doctor of the Church, while her work became classic text in Christian spirituality, mysticism, especially in the realm of prayer in Christianity, and Spanish Renaissance literature.[1]
St. Teresa called this a "living book" and in it set out to teach her nuns how to progress through prayer and Christian meditation. The first 18 of the 42 chapters discuss the rationale of being a Carmelite, the rest deal with purpose and approaches to spiritual life.[2]
Contents |
The title was inspired by The Imitation of Christ (1418), and had become a favourite expression of Teresa much before she wrote this work as it appeared at several places in her autobiography, The Life of Teresa of Jesus. Like her other books, The Way of Perfection too was written on the advice of her counsellors to describe her experiences in prayer, during the period when the Reformation was spreading through Europe. Herein she describes, ways of attaining spiritual perfection through prayer and its four stages, as in meditation, quiet, repose of soul and finally perfect union with God, which she equates with rapture.
Eventually the book meant as spiritual instruction for her nuns, offered her views on Christian theology and spiritual direction in more direct and accessible than her more famous works, like The Interior Castle and The Life of Teresa of Jesus, her autobiography [1][3].