Teresa Of Avila Interior Castle

Teresa Of Avila: Interior Castle

Saint Teresa of Avila is a renowned Spanish mystic, reformer, writer, and founder of the Discalced Carmelites. Her literary brilliance can be witnessed in her masterpiece, "Interior Castle," a profound treatise on the spiritual journey to divine union. The castle represents the soul, with seven mansions akin to different stages of spiritual growth. Each mansion illuminates distinct aspects of the transformative journey.

First Mansions: Exterior Prayer and Interior Prayer
- Focuses on external acts of devotion and meditation, leading to inward contemplation.

Second Mansions: Self-Knowledge and Humility
- Involves introspection, recognizing one's limitations, and cultivating humility to surrender to God's grace.

Third Mansions: Union with Christ and Spiritual Marriage
- Marks the experience of a mystical union with Christ, characterized by profound love and surrender.

Fourth Mansions: Passive Prayer and Contemplation
- God takes over the soul's faculties, leading to deep contemplation and a surrender of self-will.

Fifth Mansions: Spiritual Betrothal
- Love for God intensifies, resulting in a profound exchange of wills and a shared life with Christ.

Sixth Mansions: Spiritual Marriage
- The soul becomes fully united with God, experiencing a mystical union and a profound intimacy.

Seventh Mansions: Union of the Spirit
- Represents the highest level of mystical union, characterized by the soul's constant presence in God's presence and an uninterrupted connection to the divine.

Teresa of Avila's "Interior Castle" remains a time-tested resource for spiritual seekers, guiding them on their inner journey to the ultimate destination: a profound and transformative union with the Divine.