jjares reviewed Teresa of Avila: A Life from Beginning to End (Biographies of Christians) on + 3292 more book reviews
The author of this book did a wise thing; the author reminded the reader that St. Teresa lived in a time where religion was paramount in people's lives. In the introduction, the author states "... just about everyone around her lived and breathed religion." (page 1) In fact, it is impossible to believe any part of this story without knowing that very important point. I also liked the fact that the reader was reminded that this was a very different place and time (from today's secular world).
Being personally very familiar with Teresa's story, I was shocked to see how much traveling Teresa did while she was part of a cloistered convent (cloistered means never leaving the convent; doctors, family come to the nun). Even after Teresa opened a truly closed convent (St. Joseph's was much more closed than the Carmelites), she continued to travel.
The author presented the visions and activities of Teresa and reminded the reader that these actions were reported by others who were considered to be authorities or persons of high moral character. It is shocking to see how many people in the world tuberculosis killed over the centuries; Teresa was one of them.
Being personally very familiar with Teresa's story, I was shocked to see how much traveling Teresa did while she was part of a cloistered convent (cloistered means never leaving the convent; doctors, family come to the nun). Even after Teresa opened a truly closed convent (St. Joseph's was much more closed than the Carmelites), she continued to travel.
The author presented the visions and activities of Teresa and reminded the reader that these actions were reported by others who were considered to be authorities or persons of high moral character. It is shocking to see how many people in the world tuberculosis killed over the centuries; Teresa was one of them.
