Table of Contents
Chapter One – Sixteenth Century Spain: Teresa’s Hour
Chapter Two – Teresa of Avila: Coming of Age
Chapter Three – The Call to Reform: The Mandate to Write
Chapter Four – Teresa’s Writings: Style & Format
Chapter Five – The Interior Castle: The First & Second Dwelling Places
Chapter Six – Complacency: The Third & Fourth Dwelling Places
Chapter Seven – The Prayer of Union: The Fifth Dwelling Place
Chapter Eight – The Wound of Love: The Sixth Dwelling Place
Chapter Nine – The Seventh Dwelling Place & Teresa’s Foundations
A sample two-hour session
7:00 p.m. – Hellos
7:15–7:20 p.m. – Opening Prayer
7:20–8:50 p.m. – Read & Discuss
8:50 p.m. – Closing Prayers/Announcements
9:00 p.m. – Goodbyes
Supplemental resources
- Listen to an audio Chapter 1 of St. Teresa of Avila
- FORMED Now! Teacher of Prayer: Saint Teresa of Avila
- Debunking Myths & Lies About the Inquisition
- St. Teresa of Avila: Teacher of Prayer YouTube Playlist
- The Female Saints & Doctors of the Church YouTube Playlist
- On Prayer & Healing YouTube Playlist
Paying it forward
Make a one-time gift to Endow to help women all over the world discover their God-given dignity!
Become a monthly supporter and join the Feminine Genius Circle!
I am currently doing the St. Teresa of Avila study with a friend. It is AMAZING. Thank you for all you do!
Kari
The spiritual life develops within a particular family, during a specific time and culture. Five hundred years separate the practical details of St. Teresa of Avila’s life from our own, but like her, God also calls us to make the journey, step-by-step, into becoming ‘person-gifts.’ Through this study, you will see how St. Teresa grew into holy self-gift, within her own complex relationships and circumstances of life. The study of St. Teresa will help you prepare to respond to your own unique challenges and graces.
Navigating the study
There are nine chapters to complete and we recommend aiming to complete one chapter per meeting. You may want to give yourself 10-12 weeks and divide up longer chapters or plan to have meetings run 2.5 hours.
A few quick note for hosts of this study:
- There is always a temptation to rush through a study in order to get through a chapter. Remember quality over quantity!
- There are many discussion questions in this study guide. It is up to the discretion of the host to follow the lead of the women as well as the Holy Spirit in helping steward the questions that are most striking to the group! Ask St. Teresa to help guide your discussion!
The commentary for this study guide was written by Dr. Madelynn Winstead and Terry Polakovic, co-founder of Endow and author of the On The Dignity of Women (Mulieris Dignitatem) study.
We are here to support you
Throughout your study, as spiritual, theological, or pastoral questions arise, please contact us for support. Please also consider emailing us testimonies from your group! We love to hear what the Lord is doing through Endow!
The Endow team is here to support you in studying this important document! For an initial 20 minute Zoom meeting with us, please contact [email protected] with the subject line “Mentoring meeting”
Teacher of Prayer promotional kit