The Way of Perfection: St. Teresa of Avila

Description

ch. 19 on the universal call (commenting on Jn. 7:37 "If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink."); quotation below from ref:12.113 of Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.'s Christian Perfection & Contemplation:

Remember, our Lord invited 'Any man': He is truth itself; His word cannot be doubted. If all had not been included He would not have addressed everybody, nor would He have said: 'I will give you to drink.' He might have said: 'Let all men come, for they will lose nothing by it, and I will give to drink to those I think fit for it.' But as He said, unconditionally: 'If any man thirst let him come to Me,' I feel sure that, unless they stop halfway, none will fail to drink of this living water.

mentions chess beginning in ch. 16!

St. Teresa : 1515-1581

Salamancan priest and chess popularizer (even today the opening named after him is the most common)

Ruy López de Segura : 1530-1580

He wrote Libro de la invención liberal y arte del juego del Axedrez. He became bishop of Seguro, too.

This classic of the interior life and Christian mysticism remains as fresh and inspiring today as it was 400 years ago. Written by a prominent sixteenth-century Spanish mystic and Carmelite nun, it forms a practical guide to prayer that embraces readers with its warmth and accessibility.

St. Teresa of Avila's detailed directions on the achievement of spiritual perfection designate three essentials — fraternal love, detachment from material things, and true humility. She discusses a variety of maxims related to the practice of prayer and concludes with a thought-provoking commentary on the Lord's Prayer. A work of sublime mystical beauty, The Way of Perfection is above all a treatise of utter simplicity that offers lucid instruction to all seekers of a more meaningful way of life.