Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591) is one of only 33 "Doctors of the Church"-of whom there are only three Carmelites. A contemporary of fellow-Spaniard and Carmelite, Saint Teresa of Avila, he is considered one of the great mystics in the Western Church, one of the glories of Spain and the Carmelite order. This devotional book is made up of his sayings from his masterpieces The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle and The Living Flame of Love, all edited and translated by Fr. Kavanaugh in Paulist Press's Classics of Western Spirituality series. In this little gem of a book, for each day of the year there is a thought on which to dwell, pray, or meditate. What makes this book unique is that it can can be picked up on ANY day of the year and the reader can appreciate the chosen thought. If you miss a day, the book will always be applicable for ANY and EVERY day of the year regardless of your circumstances. This is the perfect pocket-/purse-sized gift book for those who have a devotion to St. John and to Carmelite spirituality in general.

"Bargains in books are rare today, but one would be hard put to find in American publishing anything superior to these in content and format." The Parish Visitor Francisco de Osuna: The Third Spiritual Alphabet translated and introduced by Mary E. Giles preface by Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. "Just to love the exercise of recollection is a gift from God...." Francisco de Osuna (c.1492-1540) Francisco de Osuna (c. 1492-c. 1540) was born in the Seville region of Spain on the eve of that country's golden age of mysticism that saw the sublime achievements of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. Osuna entered the Order of Friars Minor of the Regular Observance when Cardinal Jimenez de Cisneros was spearheading a reform movement that encouraged believers to nourish a simple, Christ-centered, inner spirituality. In the midst of the controversy over the nature of true interior prayer that raged during the 1520's between the advocates of recollection (recogimiento) and those who practiced abandon (dejamiento), Osuna wrote a series of maxims as a practical guide for recollection. These he arranged into a series of "Spiritual Alphabets," the third of which appears in this volume. Long recognized for its influence on the famous Spanish Carmelites of the sixteenth century, The Third Spiritual Alphabet is itself a masterpiece of mystical literature that will richly repay those who seek its treasures.

St. Teresa of Avila, one of the most interesting and important figures in the history of the Catholic Church, was also one of the most candid, entertaining, and brilliant correspondents of her century. This selection of letters offers a unique "behind the scenes" look at this extraordinary Doctor of the Church with details of her life not originally meant for the public. The letters begin when St. Teresa was 46-two years before she founded her first convent for Carmelite reform in Avila, Spain-and continue until her death 21 years later. She exhibits worries, troubles, sadness, joy, triumphs, and questions throughout. Recipients of these letters, and the people discussed in them, include some of the famous and fascinating figures of late 16-century Catholic Europe: St. John of the Cross and Philip II of Spain. The story these letters tell is one of enduring importance to the history of the Church. From nascent beginnings to more detailed plans, it is possible throughout St. Teresa of Avila: Her Life in Letters to witness the birth of Spanish mysticism, the reform of the Carmelite Order, and the experiences of contemplative prayer and meditation that resulted in The Interior Castle.

"...a milestone in American religious publishing." New Catholic World John of the Cross: Selected Writings translated and introduced by Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. preface by Ernest E. Larkin, O. Carm. I abandoned and forgot myself Laying my face on my beloved; All things ceased; I went out from myself, Leaving my cares forgotten among the lilies. John of the Cross 1542-1591 There are few works on the spiritual life in the West that can match the insight and sheer beauty of those of the sixteenth-century Spanish Carmelite, St. John of the Cross. A collaborator with St. Teresa of Avila in the reform movement that attempted to forge a new style of religious life, dedicated to recollection yet distinct from both the enthusiasm of the alumbrados and the sterility of the conventual Carmelites, John was no stranger to suffering. As he so memorable wrote in The Ascent of Mount Carmel, summing up his doctrine of detachment, "nothing (nada), nothing, nothing, and even on the Mountain nothing." Yet the harshness of his teaching that emerges in the context of his commentaries on his poetry is balance by the poetry itself-a poetry that breathes the warmth and sweetness of the tender love of God that made John one of the greatest mystical writers of all time and earned him the title, Doctor of the Church. Here, under one cover, are selections from his major works in a revised translation by Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. Taken as a whole, this volume represents the essential St. John of the Cross and will serve well both the newcomer and the expert.

The Hackett edition of Teresa of Avila's spiritual autobiography features Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez's authoritative translation of The Book of Her Life with a new Introduction by Jodi Bilinkoff that will prove especially valuable to students of Early Modern Spain, the history of Christian spirituality, and classic women writers. A map, chronology, and index are also included.

With an informative and extensive introduction covering Teresas early life, her life as a nun, and her work as a foundress, Kavanaugh sets the stage for a valuable selection of writings from the Saints works, divided into two sections. The first set centers on Teresas growth in the spiritual life, particularly her life of prayer. The second part focuses on the copious store of her contemplative experiences which shed light on the Christian mysteries. Also includes a chronology of Teresas life and a selected bibliography. Fr. Kavanaugh's excellent introduction to St. Teresa's understanding and experience of Christian contemplation is required reading for anyone desiring a deeper prayer life. Kevin Culligan, O.C.D. Institute of Carmelite Studies, Chicago, Ill. Kieran Kavanaugh, who has given us such fine contemporary translations of Teresa, here focuses on the rich content of Teresa's contemplation, seen through a prism of many colors, from the darkness of the abyss to the bright light of the interior Sun. Tessa Bielecki Author of Teresa of Avila Mystical Writings

"The Classics of Western Spirituality (TM)...was the event of the year." Commonweal "We simply want to applaud..." The New Review of Books and Religion Teresa of Avila: Interior Castle "I t is that we consider our soul to be like a castle made entirely out of a diamond or of very clear crystal in which there are many rooms, just as in heaven there are many dwelling places." Teresa of Avila 1515-1582 This 16th-century Spanish mystic is considered one of the most profound spiritual teachers in the history of Christianity. Father Kieran Kavanaugh, the editor of the volume, says in his introduction, "The Interior Castle has come to be regarded as Teresa's best synthesis...If asked to single out one work as her masterpiece, most of those acquainted with the Teresian writings would probably choose The Interior Castle." Teresa received the image of the whole book in a vision on Trinity Sunday, 1577. An early biographer says that she beheld "a most beautiful crystal globe like a castle in which she saw seven dwelling places, and in the seventh, which was in the center, the King of Glory dwelt in the greatest splendor." The Second Vatican Council pointed out that by penetrating the revealed message the Christian mystics enrich our comprehension of it an thievery contribute to the Church's living tradition. Among the mystics, St. Teresa of Avila holds a unique position as a witness to divine realities. Her common sense, humor, and penchant for everyday images liven her writings; but she is above all remarkable for her analytical abilities in proving the mystery of God's workings in the soul. On September 27, 1970, Pope Paul VI proclaimed Teresa a Doctor of the Church. During the ceremony the pope spoke of her as a teacher of "marvelous profundity."