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Book Reviews of Interior CastleBook Review: This is a classic of spiritual literature. Summary: 5 Stars
Interior Castle, by St. Teresa of Avila, is one of the saint's writings that is filled with spiritual insight, charm, and breathtaking closeness to God. Her castle is the God within, and there are outward mansions that must be penetrated to get to this inner treasure. Each mansion is a deepening of one's knowledge of God, and a step further away from one's capture by externality and the world. She describes these inward steps, and leads one onward to union with God (or God carries one onward - at first it is our efforts, than it is God's). Beautiful and illuminating.
Book Review: What an Excellent Book! Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book at a local bookstore actually as a fluke (sort of). I had some in-store credit and a coupon, and I had heard this was a solid work by St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila), so I bought it.
This is one of the best books I have ever read! I now say to persons, "I'm in a 7-Step spiritual program" (i.e., St. Teresa's seven mansions). St. Teresa is this very winesome writer who is furiously working on this treatise late at night after being neck-deep in this massive and highly controversial reforming movement in 16th century CE Spain.
So she comes to this work all tired and exhausted physically, but her zealous spirit for the things of God just shines right through the pages! It is literally a window to the soul of this great woman who walked her talk. She also is very attractive in that she is, in one sense, this very ordinary woman who has believed a story that God can do great things through those who will live for Him totally. As such, you don't get the sense she's this super-intellectual giant like Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Calvin, and so on who is also struggling with their intellect, but rather she's the "plain Jane" sold out for God.
After reading this book, I've made St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) my honorary mother as I couldn't be more honored than to be her son in some small way. I have gone on to get her collected works in three volumes, but I must say this is one of the most profound, yet elegantly simple, books I have ever read. In one sense, how can I write a review of this book? What can I say about such a treasure? All I can say is this, if I had to lose all my books and can only have my Bible and maybe ten others - this work would be among the ten.
Book Review: awesome Summary: 5 Stars
it is very spiritual and rewarding...you can search your soul for your place in your spiritual beliefs...
Book Review: enter the castle Summary: 4 Stars
Richly written, imaginative, insightful book by the spiritual director herself...wish she was around to ask why it is we must always fight off the imaginal beasts instead of listening to them...
Book Review: not a review--a comment Summary: 5 Stars
The review entitled "a book for all religions" is in the wrong place--it refers to another translation of this book--just my opinion, but that's probably why it has such low scores--it's just misfiled.
More Interior Castle reviews: 1 2 3 4 5
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