Teresa of Avila: The Progress of a Soul

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Historical Account of a Female Saint
Review: I greatly enjoyed reading Cathleen Medwick's extraordinarily detailed biography of Saint Teresa of Avila. Saint Teresa shines forth as a fascinating historical figure in TERESA OF AVILA: THE PROGRESS OF A SOUL because she seemed to have an innate ability to continually seek the highest possible spiritual path throughout her life. Whenever temptation arose, she was willing to do whatever might be necessary to right herself again -- regardless whether the form of temptation or evil took human or supernatural form.

Medwick maintains a detached tone throughout this riveting story, which provides one with a better idea of what it was like to live in Saint Teresa's time (with the Inquisition wreaking havoc in the lives of some spiritual people). Descriptions of how Teresa must have felt as she experienced amazing spiritual epiphanies are handled with grace and aplomb by Medwick, who shares the facts without ever stooping to speculation nor overly exalting Teresa.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to better understand what life was like for a spiritual woman in 16th century Europe whose utmost desire was to be as close to God as possible.

Rating:
Summary: Biography of Teresa as historical figure
Review: I think that Medwick may have written a book that will manage to completely please very few people who read it. While it talks about the development of her spiritual history as a historical event, it is not a book that focuses on Teresa as mystic visionary. On the other hand, while it contains much historical background and fact, it also elides and skips over much that would have been interesting-- presumably in the interest of making it a quicker read appealing to a broader audience. While I was fine with the direction Medwick chose (there has been enough said about Teresa as mystic) I felt like some sections were frustratingly incomplete and occasionally the treatment of the background was too superficial.

For instance, while a lot was said about her struggles with the church hierarchy, I found that Medwick gave surprisingly few details about the tangle Teresa had with the Inquisition. We know that the threat was hanging over her. We know that she was reported to the Inquisision. We even know the name of her enemy. However, she elides quite a bit of what surely must have been a historically interesting time in the life of Teresa as she actually faced Inquisition scrutiny. In her (successful) effort to make Teresa approachable as person, Medwick at times nearly lifts her out of history. It takes more than interpersonal relationships and anecdote to make a historical biography.

I am sorry to begin the review with criticism. I am sorry because, while I see the flaws with the book, I still feel like Teresa of Avila is a loving and obviously well-researched treatment of a subject which is very difficult to approach in a neutral way. Medwick is to be commended for the effort that she put into it, and the way in which she managed to make readable very alien customs from a very different age. The book is very interesting indeed when she places Teresa in the context of Spain and the Spanish culture. She does a very good job of communicating why Teresa is one of the two patron Saints of Spain.

Medwick talks in her introduction about how long she has been researching this book and her notion of Teresa as a soul in progress. Both points are interesting. If I had to guess, I would think that many of the gaps were unintentional and that Medwick had so much material that it was edited down at a certain point to try to make it more readable for a popular audience. Too bad, whatever happened.

Truthfully, this book is more a three star book, but I am rating it for four stars both because of the fascinating subject matter and because I truly believe that the flaws should not dissuade you from reading the book if you have interest in the Saint. It is still a readable and admirable effort, whatever else.

Rating:
Summary: She still challenges us...
Review: It's remarkable that 500 years after her death, Teresa continues to provoke admiration and castigation, something I think she would have enjoyed, albeit quietly... One thing I relished about this book is the balance the author achieves in relating Teresa the strong reformer and writer and Teresa the Mystic. We are not spared the strange nature of Teresa's mystical life, but neither is it treated in "tabloid" fashion, either. It's important to understand that in her writings, (especially "Interior Castle"), Teresa took great pains to warn people engaged in the mystical life that "supernatural" occurrences should neither be sought or expected and if they do occur to question them deeply and thoroughly. (Teresa's contemporary and friend, John of the Cross, offers the same explicit warning in his writings). Yet, it is troubling to observe so many people try to "explain away" Teresa's mystical experiences as "neurosis" or "insanity". If people paint their faces blue and jump about, scream, weep or faint at a soccer match, we may think it eccentric, but don't necessarily categorize such people as "psychotic"; but if someone expresses enthusiasm and allows the profound depth of their faith and love to express itself, (whether there is something "supernatural" behind it or not), that kind of expression is "crazy". At best, this is intellectual dishonesty. Teresa is solidly a product of her time, with all of its best and worst aspects. Her allure is her ability to transcend those limitations and challenge us to become more than what we are. That alone is enough to make some people apoplectic...

Rating:
Summary: A nice enough tale about an important saint
Review: Some reviewers complain this book does not describe Teresa's mysticism. This is true. Perhaps the subtitle is confusing, but the inside jacket flap will tell you there will be little mysticism discussed in the book. For those of you considering this book over the Internet, let me reiterate: this is not a book on mysticism.

That said, this compelling book describes the life of one of Catholicism's most prominent saints. It works as a foil to the saint's own writings. Reading Teresa's works alone tell you little about her world. Lacking context, you cannot hope to understand why she was writing what she wrote, the way she wrote it, and what she was really trying to say (without saying it directly). Medwick does not psychoanalyze Teresa. The book is a rather dry history.

For this reason, I *really* recommend Gillian Ahlgren's "Teresa of Avila and the Politics of Sanctity" and Alison Weber's "Teresa of Avila and the Rhetoric of Femininity". These two books more clearly depict the contours of the battles between Teresa and the Church. As a woman mystic, Teresa caused all sorts of problems: women could not teach theology, yet she was a teacher. Following her death, the Church "de-feminized" the saint in a process sad, chilling, and instructive. Unfortunately, these two books are fairly academic - big words, complex sentences, and sometimes impenetrable logic. (A warning to those who avoid those sort of things.)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent bio. of Teresa de Avila for today's woman.
Review: Teresa's life is chronicled here in a verbose, often sarcastic, manner. I waded thru this book, finding the political information much more interesting than the theology. While it appears to be well researched, the book is often dry history, not giving the reader a good clue as to why Teresa became the legend that she is now. The Spanish words are often not translated, leaving the reader to guess at their meaning. And the vast number of Hispanic names grow confusing.

However, the life of Teresa is more about her political wheeling and dealing as she gathers benefactors and founds religious institutions across Spain during a most colorful century. She managed to stay one step ahead of the Inquisition, even with her detractors on her heels. I am not christian or catholic, so I found the theology a bit difficult, but I do understand the concept of spiritual journey, which she clearly deliniates.

All in all, it was a fair read, the story of a brave and opinionated women who was ahead of her time... I would have liked to get into her head more... and her heart, not as a catholic following the "will" of god, but to know what she really wanted to do. Did she program for her own immortality? Or did she really feel the hand of god on her mission? This, alas, is not clear from Medwick's discussion, and, of course, may never be revealed.

I am vastly interested in the lives of the "saints" and the political climate that drove their paths, but this book did not add much to my own insight. I wish Medwick would have made Teresa less plastic and more real!

Rating:
Summary: Saint Teresa's writings speak for themselves
Review: The progress of St. Teresa's soul is glossed over despite the subtitle. The book effectively describes her progress in establishing convents and monasteries against rather formidable political oppostion but does little to illuminate the nature of her mysticsm. In addition the constant introduction of Spanish phrases seems gratuitous at times as does the introduction of new personalities with little or no background on their connection to Teresa. I found myself thumbing back to see if there was a previous reference to an individual several times. Overall I felt less than enthusiastic about the approach here.

Rating:
Summary: A Labor of Love
Review: This book was assigned for me to read in view of perhaps using it for a study group at my church, so I read it pretty closely. Cathleen Medwick must have spent years researching her topic with love and dedication: the book follows Teresa of Avila very closely and we come away feeling that we have been in the presence of a towering spirit, though always down to earth, humble, and obedient to her superiors as expected from a dutiful nun, who also happens to experience unbelievable extasies while remaining extremely business-savvy and diplomatic. The book is extremely well written, and the passages that are translated from Teresa's own writings are lively and engaging. It made me want to read Teresa's own works, especially her "Vida" and "The Interior Castle." One caution: Medwik doesn't baby her readers, and if she's first translated a Spanish word or term, she will be using that word without translation in the rest of the book, so you have to pay attention. I had trouble with the hundreds of characters that are introduced in this book with whom Teresa had dealings during her long life, but only very few take on flesh and bones in this biography beside herself and some of her confessors. An index of Spanish words, and a list of characters might have been helpful to the distracted reader. A very thorough scholarly work that can be enjoyed by any serious reader eager to get acquainted with Teresa's life and times.

Rating:
Summary: A Labor of Love
Review: This book was assigned for me to read in view of perhaps using it for a study group at my church, so I read it pretty closely. Cathleen Medwick must have spent years researching her topic with love and dedication: the book follows Teresa of Avila very closely and we come away feeling that we have been in the presence of a towering spirit, though always down to earth, humble, and obedient to her superiors as expected from a dutiful nun, who also happens to experience unbelievable extasies while remaining extremely business-savvy and diplomatic. The book is extremely well written, and the passages that are translated from Teresa's own writings are lively and engaging. It made me want to read Teresa's own works, especially her "Vida" and "The Interior Castle." One caution: Medwik doesn't baby her readers, and if she's first translated a Spanish word or term, she will be using that word without translation in the rest of the book, so you have to pay attention. I had trouble with the hundreds of characters that are introduced in this book with whom Teresa had dealings during her long life, but only very few take on flesh and bones in this biography beside herself and some of her confessors. An index of Spanish words, and a list of characters might have been helpful to the distracted reader. A very thorough scholarly work that can be enjoyed by any serious reader eager to get acquainted with Teresa's life and times.