Realizing Our Deepest Desires
Journeying into the Joy of God: Reflections on St. Teresa of Avila’s The Interior Castle
- Prayer & Spiritual Formation
- Publisher: Resource Publications (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2022
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Publisher's Description
From his Jesuit background, Bernie Owens has written a twenty-first-century version of Teresa of Avila's sixteenth-century classic, The Interior Castle. He writes in an experiential, easy-to-read style with numerous contemporary stories taken from North American and African cultures to illustrate the seven stages of spiritual growth Teresa describes. His book is a map for those seeking guidance on how to grow into praying and living contemplatively and dispose themselves for entering the deeper stages of the spiritual journey. Finally, he names issues that frequently emerge during the spiritual journey, describes the way for becoming a Beloved Disciple of Jesus as a proven path for living intimately with Christ and the Triune God, and, lastly, presents the kind of God Teresa knew and fiercely loved.
Endorsements (5)
“With keen insight, practical wisdom, and illustrative stories, Fr. Owens brings his discerning faith perspective to bear upon significant aspects of the spiritual process wherein we come to experience our deepest, most loving desire for all that God desires for us in Christ Jesus.”
“The twenty-first century finds many people hungry for something deeper and more satisfying. . . . Bernie Owens masterfully guides the reader through the use of modern-day examples, the wisdom of Saint Teresa of Avila, and his own experiences and reflections to recognize how God is drawing them into deeper friendship. This book is an excellent resource for faith-formation leaders when planning parish programs to educate and foster growth in parishioners.”
“How does one convey Saint Teresa of Avila’s sixteenth-century mystical masterpiece to a contemporary audience? Fr. Bernie Owens meets this challenge by offering the reader thought-provoking discourse, practical examples, illustrations of concepts, implications for prayer, and questions for reflection. For those on a spiritual quest, Realizing Our Deepest Desires is akin to a treasure map.”
“More than just another commentary on The Interior Castle, this book brings together the author’s lifelong study of the Spanish mystics and his lifetime of experience accompanying others on their spiritual journeys. Bernie Owens makes Teresa of Avila’s invitation to a transformed life understandable and attractive to contemporary readers, and offers us wise, practical guidance in following where she leads.”
“Drawing on the writings of three of our most influential saints—Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Ignatius of Loyola—as well as his own experience as teacher and spiritual guide, Fr. Owens gifts us with a practical, insightful road map as to how to deepen our relationship with God within the context of our daily lives. A must-read for anyone searching for guidance in his/her spiritual life!”
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