Although St. Teresa of Avila lived and wrote almost four centuries ago, her
superbly inspiring classic on the practice of prayer is as fresh and
meaningful today as it was when she first wrote it. THE WAY OF
PERFECTION is a practical guide to prayer setting forth the Saint’s counsels
and directives for the attainment of spiritual perfection.
Through the entire work there runs the author’s desire to teach a deep and
lasting love of prayer beginning with a treatment of the three essentials of
the prayer-filled life — fraternal love, detachment from created things, and
true humility. St. Teresa’s counsels on these are not only the fruit of lofty
mental speculation, but of mature practical experience. The next section
develops these ideas and brings the reader directly to the subjects of prayer
and contemplation. St. Teresa then gives various maxims for the practice of
prayer and leads up to the topic which occupies the balance of the book — a
detailed and inspiring commentary on the Lord’s Prayer.
Of all St. Teresa’s writings, THE WAY OF PERFECTION is the most easily
understood.