Fire Within: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and the Gospel on Prayer

Happy the day I found this book!In my busy life it's very rare for me to drop every non-essential and read a book in ten days, highlighters in hand, then go back and read it again. I wish I had found it 20+ years ago.I enjoy the style: there is no pomposity, and I did not find it repetitive. It made the works of Teresa of Avila and, in particular, of John of the Cross much clearer. It has cleared up many questions I had.The best book I've seen in the last 10 years. (What did I find before then which is so good? - The Navarre Bible published by the Four Courts Press in Dublin / Scepter in the US / Baroque Books in Vancouver.)Away with the self-help books, the technique books, the books with false promises. Here is Truth.

This book is a must for anyone who desires a closer relationship with God. It is literally a life-changing book and shows how deep contemplative prayer is possible for anyone in any walk of life. It dispels many misconceptions and objections about contemplative prayer: that it is impractical, takes too much time, is esoteric or has nothing to do with everday life and relationships. The author, basing himself squarely on two great masters of prayer, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, emphasizes that contemplative prayer is a gift of God; we cannot "earn" it or merit it in any way, though we have to make ourselves open to it by trying to live more and more according to Jesus' gospel. It does not depend on techniques (despite what many people think), but God will not give it unless we really want it. Contemplative prayer, a deep imersion in God, as Fr. Dubay so passionately puts it, is the "one thing" of the gospel, the "pearl of great price", yet God wants it for everyone. I don't come across many books that have changed my outlook on life, but this is one.

Fr. Thomas Dubay has been able to synthesize the teachings of two of the greatest teachers and mystics in the Catholic tradition. A comprehensive discussion of St. Teresa's "mansions" and St. John of the Cross's "dark night of the soul," this book is also a practical guide for people who want to grow in prayer and in the universal call to holiness. Fr. Dubay is an authority on both theory and practice, and is a much sought-after spiritual director. His explanation of discerning genuine encounters with God versus one's own self-delusion is especially useful in the realm of contemplation, since contemplation is by its very nature not an objective experience. He elucidates the movement from meditation to contemplation and distinguishes it from other psychological states. His chaper on friendship and the development of virtues sets the entire contemplative experience within the context of the goal and purpose of prayer. This is a meaty book, but it is well worth the effort.

This book is basically a How-to guide on how to be a Christian mystic, focusing on the writings and life of John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila. It is a very concise book, and is not light reading, but I enjoy that fact. I highly recommend this book for the individual interested in deepening their experiences with the Triune God.

This book is a phenomenal introduction to some of the best writers of the spiritual life--John of the Cross and his contemporary Theresa of Avilla. This book will give everyone a clear, susinct, insight into these giants of spirituality whose writings have stood the test of time. The book discusses their lives, and their writings and compares it to the gospel understanding. The author, DuBay, rightly concludes that EVERYONE is called to be a mystic! Then explains what that process is! A msut read for anyone who wants to grow in their relationship to God!