St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross

[RoseMeg451]

I was looking for recommendations of books by St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. Could you all tell me which of their writings would be best to start with and which translations you would reccomend? I had picked up “Teresa of Avila: The Book of My Life,” translated by Mirabai Starr the other day, but I didn’t really care for the liberties she had taken in her translation (such as changing “sinning” to “missing the mark”). Thanks!

 

[Mordocai]

For St. John of the Cross, I recommend starting with The Ascent of Mount Carmel
for St. Theresa of Avila, The Way of Perfection
After these, you could move onto other writings like Dark Night of the Soul (St. John) and Interior Castles (St. Theresa)
However, it would be my personal recommendation to pick up a book by a leading spiritual direction/contemplative prayer authority, Fr. Thomas Dubay. The book is called Fire Within.
Depending on where you’re at in the spiritual life, that book will help you irregardless of where you’re at. You will see (especially with St. John) that sometimes the Saints’ writings can be a bit too deep and profound where, continuing to read might be literally fruitless (as it is always possible the Lord might not be calling you to read book A or book B at this point) but not to worry, Fr. Dubay’s writings are ALL recommended and he’s an avid student of the Saints’ life and writings, literally an authority.
Check out all his books!
If you want to start from the beginning, check out Prayer Primer
He also wrote Seeking Spiritual Direction and others.

Alright, God Bless!
Mordocai

 

[Mordocai]

Oh, as for publishers to look for in the Saint’s books, Image puts out good versions.
You can trust them as far as I know.
(i believe Image was bought by Doubleday at some point?)

 

[Genesis315]

Oh, as for publishers to look for in the Saint’s books, Image puts out good versions.)

Yes, I read St. Teresa’s autobiography put out by image and it was great! Also, Paulist Press has a series “Classics of Western Spirituality” which may prove helpful.

 

[Zooey]

“The Book of My Life” is a great start, but Starr is indeed a less than faithful translator…
Tan Books has all St Teresa’s books in an earlier translation. But the one I like the best is by Kieran Kavanagh (& another author, I believe). ICS Publications publishes them, along with the rest of “the Collected Works”. They also publish St John of the Cross (collected works in 1 volume & on my “want list”), St Therese of Lisieux, & others.
You can get a look at what each includes here: sistersofcarmel.com/books.php

(I believe that you can find them at a better price elsewhere, like on Amazon, the sisters do have a nice catalog there, though).

St Teresa of Avila is my most favorite saint in all the world, & I am so pleased that someone else is getting “hooked” on her wonderful writings…

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I was looking for recommendations of books by St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. Could you all tell me which of their writings would be best to start with and which translations you would reccomend? I had picked up “Teresa of Avila: The Book of My Life,” translated by Mirabai Starr the other day, but I didn’t really care for the liberties she had taken in her translation (such as changing “sinning” to “missing the mark”). Thanks!

I would recommend “The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila,” and “The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross.” I prefer the ICS publications and translations by Fr. Kavinaugh and Fr. Rodriquez. They’re the best bang for the buck, in my opion. I found these two translations the easiest to understand, plus, being a 3rd order member in the Discalced Caremelites as these two priest, fits better for me.

icspublications.org/bookstore/index.html

Also, as mentioned, “The Fire Within,” by Fr. Thomas Dubey, explains the work of the two saints very well.

God Bless
Jim

 

[Jenlyn]

If you want to start with a little history on her and her mission you can start with Teresa of Avila by Marcelle Auclair. Then I would go to either her autobiography “Life.” Life doesn’t include all of the datail that the first book I mentioned did. Or you can go to “The Way of Perfection.”

Happy reading!

 

[FCEGM]

I would recommend “The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila,” and “The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross.” I prefer the ICS publications and translations by Fr. Kavinaugh and Fr. Rodriquez. They’re the best bang for the buck, in my opion. I found these two translations the easiest to understand, plus, being a 3rd order member in the Discalced Caremelites as these two priest, fits better for me.

icspublications.org/bookstore/index.html

Also, as mentioned, “The Fire Within,” by Fr. Thomas Dubey, explains the work of the two saints very well.

God Bless
Jim

Wonderful recommendations, Jim. I, too, found the Kavanaugh and Rodriguez translations much easier going.

 

[FCEGM]

If you want to start with a little history on her and her mission you can start with Teresa of Avila by Marcelle Auclair. Then I would go to either her autobiography “Life.” Life doesn’t include all of the datail that the first book I mentioned did. Or you can go to “The Way of Perfection.”

Happy reading!

Auclair’s book is superb! I wish it would be republished and thus easier to find.

 

[Jenlyn]

Auclair’s book is superb! I wish it would be republished and thus easier to find.

I agree! I found my at Amazon. Right now they have 9 and the cheapest used one is $17.92. I can’t remember what I paid for mine. It is a pretty think book.