Fire Within: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel on Prayer

This is a clear, engaging, comprehensive and, dare I say, life-changing synthesis of Sts. Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, one of the heaviest-hitting duos in the Church's history when it comes to illuminating God and the powers of the soul. Fr Dubay's thesis bears out completely truthfully: the Spanish saints preach nothing more, and nothing less, than the Gospel message, a truly convicting realization that dispels the mistaken notion that the "mysticism" they espouse is only for the greatest souls among us. Rather, every soul is called to be close to God, and it's so much less daunting when you realize the extent to which Teresa and John *love* God; so infectiously are they enamoured by God that you can't help but want to have show more what they have, regardless of where you are in your own spiritual life. It's an incredibly forceful realization, distilled masterfully by Fr Dubay. The image of the "fire within", an admittedly common metaphor for the Spirit, struck me so strongly because I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy in close sequence to finishing this book, and that story's message about "carrying the fire" (chiefly meaning hope and love) in the bleakest of trials is strikingly concordant with Catholic theology, made so raw and desirable. Whether you have read the primary writings of St Teresa or St John (which I highly recommend, the two I've read being The Interior Castle and Ascent of Mount Carmel) or you haven't, Fr Dubay's work will give you the confidence to seek God more intimately in your daily life. His love and union is not reserved for monks and nuns; it is for *all*. show less

1. Prayer -- History -- 16th Century 2. Spiritual Life -- Christianity -- History of Doctrines -- 16th Century 3. John of the Cross, Saint 1542-1591 4. Teresa, of Avila, Saint, 1515-1582

Copy 1 is located in category PRAYER

2nd copy of book is in category SAINTS MULTIPLE