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Simon Stock receiving the Scapular from Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

 

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Suggested Reading
137232: The Wisdom of Teresa of Avila The Wisdom of Teresa of Avila
By Kieran Kavanaugh / Paulist Press

This new "Spiritual Sampler" is an introduction to the great Teresa of Avila. The selections are from her masterpiece, The Interior Castle, and talk about prayer and the spiritual journey.

 

22545: Teresa of Avila: Interior Castle Teresa of Avila: Interior Castle
By Kieran Kavanaugh & Otillo Rodriguez, trans. / Paulist Press

This 16th-century Spanish mystic is considered one of the most profound spiritual teachers in the history of Christianity. Father Kieran Kavanaugh, the editor of the volume, says in his introduction, "The Interior Castle has come to be regarded as Teresa's best synthesis." Teresa received the image of the whole book in a vision on Trinity Sunday, 1577. An early biographer says that she beheld "a most beautiful crystal globe like a castle in which she saw seven dwelling places, and in the seventh, which was in the center, the King of Glory dwelt in the greatest splendor."
The Second Vatican Council pointed out that by penetrating the revealed message the Christian mystics enrich our comprehension of it and thereby contribute to the Church's living tradition. Among the mystics, St. Teresa of Avila holds a unique position as a witness to divine realities. Her common sense, humor, and penchant for everyday images liven her writings; but she is above all remarkable for her analytical abilities in proving the mystery of God's workings in the soul. On September 27, 1970, Pope Paul VI proclaimed Teresa a Doctor of the Church. During the ceremony the pope spole of her as a teacher of "marvelous profoundity."
 
02930: Dark Night of the Soul Dark Night of the Soul
By John of the Cross / Random House, Inc

You find no solace in Scripture. Your prayers simply bounce of the ceiling. And your doubts about God, that you had hidden so carefully, are now impossible to ignore. As we walk upon the road of faith all of us will eventually find ourselves bogged down in a spiritual depression or what St. John of the Cross calls the Dark Night. In Dark Night of the Soul St. John teaches us that those moments, which seem so threatening to our spiritual vitality, are actually an invitation to move beyond besetting sin and move closer to God. As you continue down the narrow road of faith you are bound to face some Dark Nights. Let St. John of the Cross guide you through these nights, so that you can continue on your journey towards God.

 

19434: John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila
By Crossroad

John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila have done more than anyone to shape Western Christian ideas of mysticism and the union of God and the soul. Yet how do their views of divine union account for the radical divisions in the soul--the intense suffering in the "dark night of the soul", and the soul going outside itself in ecstasy to attain God? Howell's shows how John and Teresa see the Christian Trinity as a key to divine union. As the human soul progresses in spiritual perfection, it participates in the life of the Trinity and its dynamic structure. This clearly argued, engaging book is essential for anyone seeking to understand the central features of Carmelite and Spanish mysticism.

0785991: The Practice of the Presence of God The Practice of the Presence of God
By Brother Lawrence / Baker

For three centuries the writings of Brother Lawrence have taught Christians that God is as present in the kitchen as in the cathedral and as accessible in the living room as He is around the Lord's table. This simple, yet profound teaching will empower you to seek the joy of God's presence in the midst of every moment and circumstance.
03982: Heart Of Love Heart Of Love
By Eugene McCaffrey / Ignatius Press

Written to celebrate her elevation to a Doctor of the Church, this book captures the beauty and simplicity of the message and life of St. Therese of Lisieux. Written by a Carmelite priest who is an expert on the Little Flower, this is an inspirational and devotional little book that draws on her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, and brings together the main elements of her Little Way--prayer, gospel simplicity, hope, mercy, trust, love. It contains a wide selection of quotations from her writings, especially her prayers and poems. With the striking color icon of St. Therese on the cover, this is a wonderful book of reflection and meditation on the eternal message of forgiveness and love, which is the very heart of the message of St. Therese of Lisieux.
04464: Saint Theresa: Doctor of the Little Way Saint Theresa: Doctor of the Little Way
By Mary Francis / Ignatius Press

Among the many books about St. Therese, this one is unique because it offers a compendium of insights from 23 writers who have contributed chapters on all aspects of the life and spirituality of this new Doctor of the Church. With emphasis on her unique focus on simplicity and "the little way," the 32 chapters in this book by a variety of authors like Fr. John Hardon, Sister Marie of the Trinity, O.C.D, Vernon Johnson, Fr. Stephane Piat, and more, presents topics such as: The Little Way of Therese, Saint of the Eucharist, St. Therese's Use of Scripture, Abandonment through Suffering, Mirror of the Blessed Virgin, Mystical Simplicity, and much more. Illustrated with 36 photos.
5059X: Mornings with Therese of Lisieux: 120 Daily Readings Mornings with Therese of Lisieux: 120 Daily Readings
By Patricia Treece / St. Anthony Messenger Press

Greet the morning with St. Therese of Lisieux by listening with your heart as this most popular of saints speaks with simple charm about her life with God. A century has passed since twenty-four year old Therese died... virtually unknown. But since that day she has been credited with hundreds of astounding works for God, bringing cures to the dying, rescuing men on the battlefield, appearing in mission fields where conversions increased dramatically. Today millions love St. Therese of Lisiux, not only for her wisdom, but for her unwavering passion to serve God, both in life and in death. Get to know firsthand the pure, simple girl whom Pope Pius X called "the greatest saint of modern times."
04928: 15 Days of Prayer with Saint Therese of Lisieux 15 Days of Prayer with Saint Therese of Lisieux
By Constant Tonnelier / Liguori Books

Follow the footsteps of Saint Therese of Lisieux. A Carmelite nun who joined the convent at the age of fifteen, Saint Therese lived a cloistered life of obscurity. Though she preferred hidden sacrifice during her short life, her words, her legacy, and her "little way" have made her writings a way to get close to Jesus whom she loved so well. 98 pages from Ligouri.
30965: The Story of a Life: St. Therese of Lisieux, H-C Pb The Story of a Life: St. Therese of Lisieux, H-C Pb
By Guy Gaucher, Anne Marie Brennan / Harpercollins Publishing

The premier biography of one of the world's best-loved Catholic saints, as presented by the priest who has devoted his life to telling her story.
6125593: Winter Music: A Life of Jessica Powers Winter Music: A Life of Jessica Powers
By Dolores Leckey / Sheed & Ward

Jessica Powers (1905-1988), one of the outstanding religious poets of 20th-century America, demonstrates in her life the intimate connection between art and contemplation. Born and reared in rural Wisconsin, her adventuresome spirit drew her to New York City in the 1930s where she soon became part of the Catholic literary revival. In 1941, as her work was claiming critical attention and winning applause, she abruptly left New Yourk's artistic environment for a Carmelite monastery. There for 47 years, in silence and solitude, she explored the mysteries of the human soul and the mystery of God, fashioning poetry out of her discoveries. Winter Music is a biography of Jessica Powers, a poet and nun, whose life and work reveal the intimate connectbetween art and the contemplative way of life. It is a story of laughter and pain, of courage and creativity, a story of love.
913652X: The Carmelite Way: An Ancient Path for Today's Pilgrim The Carmelite Way: An Ancient Path for Today's Pilgrim
By John Welch / Paulist Press

THE CARMELITE WAY shares the spiritual wisdom and ways of the Carmelites, an 800 year old religious community. Most Carmelites are unknown in history, but some have become revered figures whose determined search for God serves as an inspiration for countless others. This is a popular introduction to contemplative living, offering readers a unique opportunity to understand more fully what can happen when God becomes a central focus of life. Through the inspirational reflections of these fascinating people, we can learn how to develop our own personal language for our souls.
52923: At the Fountain of Elijah: The Carmelite Tradition At the Fountain of Elijah: The Carmelite Tradition
By Wilfrid McGreal / Orbis Books

In telling the story of the Carmelite tradition, Wilfrid McGreal shows the enduring importance of the Rule with its call to follow Christ with an undivided heart and its challenge to be steeped in Scripture. The significance of the symbolic figures of Elijah and Mary is highlighted -expressing and resolving the tensions of the contemplative life and pointing towards the mystical. Wilfrid McGreal also stresses the contribution of women to the Order's life, from before the time of Teresa of Avila, also taking in Therese of Lisieux and Edith Stein. It is the story of a living community and an enduring vision which remains just as vivid today as yesterday.
09048: Loving God Through the Darkness Loving God Through the Darkness
By Upper Room

John of the Cross, a sixteenth century Carmelite monk, used vivid metaphors and Biblical stories to describe a process of detachment from earthly loves. This he described as the "dark night of the soul." The experience frees us to receive God's blessings. John writings have inspired countless Christians over the centuries.