The Feminine Spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila: Ascending to God by Descending in Humility
Abstract
Teresa’s spirituality helps contemporary readers to discover a transcendental path to God – inwardness is not an end in itself; it leads above and is the path toward God. Her writings inspire contemporary readers to reflect on the danger of self-transcendence spirituality, which emphasizes the self’s autonomy and self-sufficiency without dependency on God. Moreover, she helps contemporary Christians to be aware of the peril of self-actualization spirituality, which relies on self-service and self-affirmation rather than on God’s love and grace.