Posted on 10/07/2008 9:02:24 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
okkkay!
I read long passages in Spanish from her works in college. Her work is held in respect as exemplary of women’s fiction and Spanish literature of the 16th century.
Yeah. Wow. Didn’t hafta read much of her bio after “she devoted herself to religious games in which she was the heroine.”
Faith sharing bump.
And St. Teresa of Avila had a great sense of humor. I think facts are being misconstrued here.
I am in the process of reading Vol. I of her life. She is the first “Doctor of the Church,” one who explains and expresses the Church with great clarity and erudition. Quite a prayer warrior.
oops. Teresa de Jesus de Avila was the first FEMALE Doctor of the Church. Please excuse the typo. I hab a code and the punies.
Is it really true that no one was allowed to read the Bible in vernacular, only in Latin? I confess my ignorance.
Interesting her comparison of the soul to a diamond, covered by dirt. That is 100% in line with Hindu explanation. Same analogy. Truth is truth.
Actually, it's not true, but it is a common misconception. The Bible was translated into the vernacular by early scribes.
Thank you. I have heard before that the Catholic Church refused to allow people to read the Bible, unless they knew Latin, and I confess I never researched it. I found it hard to believe, though.
This is a 13th century hymn, actually, and the original musical settings were more for the people. The people at the time related well to the Sorrows of the Blessed Mother.
Misconstrued is not quite right. IMO, the very aspects of St. Teresa's life that we admire, honor and respect as great examples of sacrifice and proof of her love for God are being used to make her look like a fool. Nothing is further from the truth. Sad.
I should thank you though, because I now want to read the book by St. Teresa I have that I've been meaning to read for years now!
In England, Henry VIII decreed that a Bible in the English vernacular be chained to the altar of every English church so his subjects could read the scriptures in their own tongue. This was after he declared himself head of the English church and broke with Rome - due to his divorce from his first wife Katherine of Aragon. I forget the exact date, sometime circa 1530, 1540 AD. This was a first for England. I just read this fact in an Alison Weir book titled Henry VIII and His Court.
Yikes, sorry I pinged you this anti-Catholic article. I didnt realize Santa Teresa de Avila was a bone of contention between Catholics and Protestants. I always thought she was kind of cool myself. My Spanish literature professor at Pitt, who was a renowned Latin American scholar, revered her.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2100165/posts?page=13#13
I think Desdemona has it right. Check out her post.
Actually, I didn't either.
But, there's a difference between BEING a mystic, where the visions come without praying for them as in the case of St. Teresa, and practicing "mysticism".
St. Ignatius Loyola of the 16th century, also a doctor of the church, founded the Jesuits AFTER the Spanish Inquisition (which was a government move in the 15th century in truth). Most of his spiritual formation was actually in France and the main thrust of the SJs has always been to teach with military like discipline. After all, Ignatius Loyola was an army man. His spiritual exercises are all about mental discipline and ordering the mind.
What is bothersome to me is that the great saints are taking it on the chin for their loyalty to the Church. If you notice, these two came after the protestant revolt. St. Francis Xavier is the same. Basically, the article says that their biographies are to be used as an example of why Catholics are wrong. In truth, these great saints should be shining examples of suffering and sacrifice for Christ.
I also think it would be better for the author to research enough to present correct facts of history.
Now I want to read Teresa’s book. :-)
Look at that! I didn't know we had an Obama supporter on the thread! I'm not surprised, really. This isn't the first time that a Catholic on this forum accused all Protestants of wearing the white hood!
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