The Way of Perfection
St. (Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada Teresa of Avila's comprehensive work on fundamental Christian theology and spiritual discipline.
43 Chapters
Table of Contents
1
Chapter 38: The numbering of the chapters, it should be noted, follows neither of
2
CHAPTER 1: Of the reason which moved me to found this convent in such strict observance.
3
CHAPTER 2: Treats of how the necessities of the body should be disregarded and of the good
4
CHAPTER 3: Continues the subject begun in the first chapter and persuades the sisters to
5
CHAPTER 4: Exhorts the nuns to keep their Rule and names three things which are important
6
CHAPTER 5: Continues speaking of confessors. Explains why it is important that they should
7
CHAPTER 6: Returns to the subject of perfect love, already begun.
8
CHAPTER 7: Treats of the same subject of spiritual love and gives certain counsels for
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CHAPTER 8: Treats of the great benefit of self-detachment, both interior and exterior, from
10
CHAPTER 9: Treats of the great blessing that shunning their relatives brings to those who
11
CHAPTER 10: Teaches that detachment from the things aforementioned is insufficient if we are
12
CHAPTER 11: Continues to treat of mortification and describes how it may be attained in
13
CHAPTER 12: Teaches that the true lover of God must care little for life and honour.
14
CHAPTER 13: Continues to treat of mortification and explains how one must renounce the
15
CHAPTER 14: Treats of the great importance of not professing anyone whose spirit is contrary
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CHAPTER 15: Treats of the great advantage which comes from our not excusing ourselves, even
17
CHAPTER 16: Describes the difference between perfection in the lives of contemplatives and
18
CHAPTER 17: How not all souls are fitted for contemplation and how some take long to attain
19
CHAPTER 18: Continues the same subject and shows how much greater are the trials of
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CHAPTER 19: Begins to treat of prayer. Addresses souls who cannot reason with the
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CHAPTER 20: Describes how, in one way or another, we never lack consolation on the road of
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CHAPTER 21: Describes the great importance of setting out upon the practice of prayer with
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CHAPTER 22: Explains the meaning of mental prayer.
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CHAPTER 23: Describes the importance of not turning back when one has set out upon the way
25
CHAPTER 24: Describes how vocal prayer may be practised with perfection and how closely
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CHAPTER 25: Describes the great gain which comes to a soul when it practises vocal prayer
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CHAPTER 26: Continues the description of a method for recollecting the thoughts. Describes
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CHAPTER 27: Describes the great love shown us by the Lord in the first words of the
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CHAPTER 28: Describes the nature of the Prayer of Recollection and sets down some of the
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CHAPTER 29: Continues to describe methods for achieving this Prayer of Recollection. Says
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CHAPTER 30: Describes the importance of understanding what we ask for in prayer. Treats of
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CHAPTER 31: Continues the same subject. Explains what is meant by the Prayer of Quiet. Gives
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CHAPTER 32: Expounds these words of the Paternoster: "Fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo et in
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CHAPTER 33: Treats of our great need that the Lord should give us what we ask in these words
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CHAPTER 34: Continues the same subject. This is very suitable for reading after the
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CHAPTER 35: Describes the recollection which should be practised after Communion. Concludes
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CHAPTER 36: Treats of these words in the Paternoster: "Dimitte nobis debita nostra." [126]
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CHAPTER 37: Describes the excellence of this prayer called the Paternoster, and the many
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CHAPTER 38: Treats of the great need which we have to beseech the Eternal Father to grant us
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CHAPTER 39: Continues the same subject and gives counsels concerning different kinds of
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CHAPTER 40: Describes how, by striving always to walk in the love and fear of God, we shall
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CHAPTER 41: Speaks of the fear of God and of how we must keep ourselves from venial sins.
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CHAPTER 42: Treats of these last words of the Paternoster: "Sed libera nos a malo. Amen."