Contributors: St. Teresa of Avila

Reading companion

Contents

The Way of Perfection · CCEL ThML source edition

Contents for The Way of Perfection, CCEL ThML source edition

Chapters

52 sections in this edition

Page 1 of 2

  1. Front matter Title Page source.xml#ii
  2. The Way of Perfection source.xml#i
  3. Presentation source.xml#i.i
  4. Front matter Principal abbreviations source.xml#i.iii
  5. Introduction source.xml#i.iv
  6. Translator's note source.xml#i.v
  7. General argument, protestations and prologue source.xml#i.vi
  8. Protestations source.xml#i.vi.i
  9. Prologue source.xml#i.vi.ii
  10. Of the reason which moved me to found this convent in such strict observance source.xml#i.vii
  11. Treats of how the necessities of the body should be disregarded and of the good that comes from poverty source.xml#i.viii
  12. Continues the subject begun in the first chapter and persuades the sisters to busy themselves constantly in beseeching God to help those who work for the Church. Ends with an exclamatory prayer source.xml#i.ix
  13. Exhorts the nuns to keep their Rule and names three things which are important for the spiritual life. Describes the first of these three things, which is love of one's neighbour, and speaks of the harm which can be done by individual friendships source.xml#i.x
  14. Appendix to chapter 4 source.xml#i.x.i
  15. Continues speaking of confessors. Explains why it is important that they should be learned men source.xml#i.xi
  16. Returns to the subject of perfect love, already begun source.xml#i.xii
  17. Treats of the same subject of spiritual love and gives certain counsels for gaining it source.xml#i.xiii
  18. Treats of the great benefit of self-detachment, both interior and exterior, from all things created source.xml#i.xiv
  19. Treats of the great blessing that shunning their relatives brings to those who have left the world and shows how by doing so they will find truer friends source.xml#i.xv
  20. Teaches that detachment from the things aforementioned is insufficient if we are not detached from our own selves and that this virtue and humility go together source.xml#i.xvi
  21. Continues to treat of mortification and describes how it may be attained in times of sickness source.xml#i.xvii
  22. Teaches that the true lover of God must care little for life and honour source.xml#i.xviii
  23. Continues to treat of mortification and explains how one must renounce the world's standards of wisdom in order to attain to true wisdom source.xml#i.xix
  24. Treats of the great importance of not professing anyone whose spirit is contrary to the things aforementioned source.xml#i.xx
  25. Treats of the great advantage which comes from our not excusing ourselves, even though we find we are unjustly condemned source.xml#i.xxi
  26. Section 16: Describes the difference between perfection in the lives of contemplatives and in the lives of those who are content with mental prayer source.xml#i.xxii
  27. How not all souls are fitted for contemplation and how some take long to attain it. True humility will walk happily along the road by which the Lord leads it source.xml#i.xxiii
  28. Continues the same subject and shows how much greater are the trials of contemplatives than those of actives. This chapter offers great consolation to actives. source.xml#i.xxiv
  29. Begins to treat of prayer. Addresses souls who cannot reason with the understanding. source.xml#i.xxv
  30. Describes how, in one way or another, we never lack consolation on the road of prayer. Counsels the sisters to include this subject continually in their conversation. source.xml#i.xxvi
  31. Describes the great importance of setting out upon the practice of prayer with firm resolution and of heeding no difficulties put in the way by the devil source.xml#i.xxvii
  32. Explains the meaning of mental prayer source.xml#i.xxviii