Teresa of Avila's Theological Reading of History: From her Second Conversion to the Foundation of St. Joseph's, Avila

Edward Howells

Teresa of Avila's Theological Reading of History: From her Second Conversion to the Foundation of St. Joseph's, Avila

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

The chapter argues that Teresa of Avila provides a critical treatment of several connected issues: the relation of history and theology, of nature and grace, and of human activity in relation to the divine initiative. These questions arise first in Teresa’s response to what she regards as the direct intervention of God in ecstatic states which disorientate her. Her autobiography or Life can be read as an attempt to reconcile such interventions with the ordinary progress of human living, making a critical approach to these questions. Over time, Teresa develops her theoretical understanding, reaching a mature view only in her later Interior Castle. But the relation of human activity and divine intervention, once recognised in this work, can be seen taking shape in the narrative of the Life (if not in Teresa’s early treatment of union), and it enables us to tease out the careful relation between the divine and human partners that Teresa develops in moving, in the Life, from ecstatic states to her fully human work of reform. This is the period from her second conversion to the foundation of St. Joseph’s in Avila, which lies at the heart of the narrative. The divine and human elements are found to be both carefully distinguished and united in her treatment, revealing critical resources for understanding these focal questions of Christian enquiry.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	St Teresa of Avila: Her Life and Writings
Editors	Terence O'Reilly, Colin Thompson, Lesley Twomey
Place of Publication	Cambridge
Publisher	Modern Humanities Research Association
Pages	32-41
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Print)	9781781885017
Publication status	Published - 2018

Publication series

Name	Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Cultures
Publisher	Legenda (Modern Humanities Research Association)
Volume	19

Keywords

Teresa of Avila, history, theology, life, ecstasy, spirituality, mysticism

Cite this

@inbook{d7e5d294251d4fafa1747bfd9f60e274,

title = "Teresa of Avila's Theological Reading of History: From her Second Conversion to the Foundation of St. Joseph's, Avila",

abstract = "The chapter argues that Teresa of Avila provides a critical treatment of several connected issues: the relation of history and theology, of nature and grace, and of human activity in relation to the divine initiative. These questions arise first in Teresa{\textquoteright}s response to what she regards as the direct intervention of God in ecstatic states which disorientate her. Her autobiography or Life can be read as an attempt to reconcile such interventions with the ordinary progress of human living, making a critical approach to these questions. Over time, Teresa develops her theoretical understanding, reaching a mature view only in her later Interior Castle. But the relation of human activity and divine intervention, once recognised in this work, can be seen taking shape in the narrative of the Life (if not in Teresa{\textquoteright}s early treatment of union), and it enables us to tease out the careful relation between the divine and human partners that Teresa develops in moving, in the Life, from ecstatic states to her fully human work of reform. This is the period from her second conversion to the foundation of St. Joseph{\textquoteright}s in Avila, which lies at the heart of the narrative. The divine and human elements are found to be both carefully distinguished and united in her treatment, revealing critical resources for understanding these focal questions of Christian enquiry.",

keywords = "Teresa of Avila, history, theology, life, ecstasy, spirituality, mysticism",

author = "Edward Howells",

year = "2018",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781781885017",

series = "Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Cultures",

publisher = "Modern Humanities Research Association",

pages = "32--41",

editor = "Terence O'Reilly and Colin Thompson and Lesley Twomey",

booktitle = "St Teresa of Avila: Her Life and Writings",

}

Teresa of Avila's Theological Reading of History: From her Second Conversion to the Foundation of St. Joseph's, Avila. / Howells, Edward.
St Teresa of Avila: Her Life and Writings. ed. / Terence O'Reilly; Colin Thompson; Lesley Twomey. Cambridge: Modern Humanities Research Association, 2018. p. 32-41 (Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Cultures; Vol. 19).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

TY - CHAP

T1 - Teresa of Avila's Theological Reading of History: From her Second Conversion to the Foundation of St. Joseph's, Avila

AU - Howells, Edward

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - The chapter argues that Teresa of Avila provides a critical treatment of several connected issues: the relation of history and theology, of nature and grace, and of human activity in relation to the divine initiative. These questions arise first in Teresa’s response to what she regards as the direct intervention of God in ecstatic states which disorientate her. Her autobiography or Life can be read as an attempt to reconcile such interventions with the ordinary progress of human living, making a critical approach to these questions. Over time, Teresa develops her theoretical understanding, reaching a mature view only in her later Interior Castle. But the relation of human activity and divine intervention, once recognised in this work, can be seen taking shape in the narrative of the Life (if not in Teresa’s early treatment of union), and it enables us to tease out the careful relation between the divine and human partners that Teresa develops in moving, in the Life, from ecstatic states to her fully human work of reform. This is the period from her second conversion to the foundation of St. Joseph’s in Avila, which lies at the heart of the narrative. The divine and human elements are found to be both carefully distinguished and united in her treatment, revealing critical resources for understanding these focal questions of Christian enquiry.

AB - The chapter argues that Teresa of Avila provides a critical treatment of several connected issues: the relation of history and theology, of nature and grace, and of human activity in relation to the divine initiative. These questions arise first in Teresa’s response to what she regards as the direct intervention of God in ecstatic states which disorientate her. Her autobiography or Life can be read as an attempt to reconcile such interventions with the ordinary progress of human living, making a critical approach to these questions. Over time, Teresa develops her theoretical understanding, reaching a mature view only in her later Interior Castle. But the relation of human activity and divine intervention, once recognised in this work, can be seen taking shape in the narrative of the Life (if not in Teresa’s early treatment of union), and it enables us to tease out the careful relation between the divine and human partners that Teresa develops in moving, in the Life, from ecstatic states to her fully human work of reform. This is the period from her second conversion to the foundation of St. Joseph’s in Avila, which lies at the heart of the narrative. The divine and human elements are found to be both carefully distinguished and united in her treatment, revealing critical resources for understanding these focal questions of Christian enquiry.

KW - Teresa of Avila, history, theology, life, ecstasy, spirituality, mysticism

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9781781885017

T3 - Studies in Hispanic and Lusophone Cultures

SP - 32

EP - 41

BT - St Teresa of Avila: Her Life and Writings

A2 - O'Reilly, Terence

A2 - Thompson, Colin

A2 - Twomey, Lesley

PB - Modern Humanities Research Association

CY - Cambridge

ER -