Catholic contemplative mysticism

The Interior Castle or The Mansions

Name: The Interior Castle or The Mansions
Author: St. Teresa of Avila

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Teresa of Avila's mystical masterpiece (1577), presenting the life of prayer as a journey through seven concentric "mansions" or dwelling places within the soul, understood as a crystal castle. Written at the command of her confessor, the work maps with extraordinary psychological precision the stages of the contemplative life from vocal prayer through the prayer of quiet, spiritual betrothal, and finally the transforming union of spiritual marriage with God. Together with The Way of Perfection and her autobiography, this is the foundational text of the Carmelite mystical tradition and one of the greatest works of Western mysticism.

Also known asLas Moradas · The Mansions · El Castillo Interior

This edition1906

EditionOriginal Spanish Las Moradas 1577; English translation by the Benedictines of Stanbrook, 1906

divine love and the BelovedMystical experiencemeditation and contemplationspiritual disciplineMysticismmystical theologyspiritual ascentcontemplative practiceMystical philosophyPrayerChristian Mysticismmystical union

Contents51 chapters

01The Interior
02Castle or The
03Mansions
04The Interior Castle or The Mansions
05Contents
06THE INTERIOR CASTLE
07THE MANSIONS
08THE INTERIOR CASTLE
09OR THE MANSIONS
10BY ST. TERESA
11THE FIRST MANSIONS
12CHAPTER I.
13CHAPTER II.
14THE SECOND MANSIONS
15ONLY CHAPTER
16THE THIRD MANSIONS
17CHAPTER I.
18CHAPTER II.
19CONTINUES THE SAME SUBJECT AND SPEAKS OF ARIDITIES IN PRAYER AND THEIR RESULTS: OF THE NECESSITY OF TRYING OURSELVES AND HOW OUR LORD PROVES THOSE WHO ARE IN THESE MANSIONS.
20THE FOURTH MANSIONS
21CHAPTER I.
22HOW SWEETNESS AND TENDERNESS IN PRAYER DIFFER FROM CONSOLATIONS. EXPLAINS HOW ADVANTAGEOUS IT WAS FOR ST. TERESA TO COMPREHEND THAT THE IMAGINATION AND THE UNDERSTANDING ARE NOT THE SAME THING. THIS CHAPTER IS USEFUL FOR THOSE WHOSE THOUGHTS WANDER MUCH DURING PRAYER.
23CHAPTER III
24OF THE PRAYER OF RECOLLECTION WHICH GOD GENERALLY GIVES THE SOUL BEFORE GRANTING IT THAT LAST DESCRIBED. ITS EFFECTS: ALSO THOSE OF THE PRAYER OF DIVINE CONSOLATIONS DESCRIBED IN THE LAST CHAPTER.
25THE FIFTH MANSIONS
26CHAPTER I.
27CHAPTER II.
28CONTINUES THE SAME SUBJECT: EXPLAINS THE PRAYER OF UNION BY A DELICATE COMPARISON AND SPEAKS OF THE EFFECTS IT LEAVES UPON THE SOUL. THIS CHAPTER SHOULD RECEIVE GREAT ATTENTION.
29CHAPTER IV.
30FURTHER EXPLANATION OF THE SAME SUBJECT; EXPLAINS THIS PRAYER. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ON ONE’S GUARD, AS THE DEVIL EAGERLY DESIRES TO TURN SOULS BACK FROM THE RIGHT PATH.
31THE SIXTH MANSIONS
32CHAPTER II.
33TREATS OF SEVERAL WAYS WHEREBY OUR LORD QUICKENS THE SOUL; THERE APPEARS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM IN THEM ALTHOUGH THEY ARE SIGNAL FAVOURS OF A VERY EXALTED NATURE.
34INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO CHAPTER III.
35CHAPTER III.
36CHAPTER IV.
37CHAPTER VI.
38CHAPTER VII.
39CHAPTER VIII.
40SPEAKS OF THE MANNER IN WHICH GOD COMMUNICATES WITH THE SOUL BY INTELLECTUAL VISION AND GIVES ADVICE UPON THE SUBJECT. OF THE EFFECTS PRODUCED BY THIS VISION WHEN GENUINE. SECRECY ABOUT THESE FAVOURS IS ENJOINED.
41CHAPTER X.
42CHAPTER XI.
43TREATS OF HOW GOD INSPIRES THE SOUL WITH SUCH VEHEMENT AND IM- PETUOUS DESIRES OF SEEING HIM AS TO ENDANGER LIFE. THE BENEFITS RES- ULTING FROM THIS DIVINE GRACE.
44THE SEVENTH MANSIONS
45CHAPTER II.
46CHAPTER III.
47THE GREAT FRUITS PRODUCED BY THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PRAYER. THE WONDERFUL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE EFFECTS AND THOSE FORMERLY DESCRIBED SHOULD BE CAREFULLY STUDIED AND REMEMBERED.
48CHAPTER IV.
49INDEX
50Indexes
51Index of Scripture References