Teresa de Avila: Mother of Souls                                                                                                                                                                           This light guided me: John of the Cross    
                                                                                     Join us on Mother’s Day for Tea and Teresa.                                                                                                                                                             
                                                         Saint Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, baptized as                                                                                                                                     On this day of Pentecost, we turn to St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)—
                                                         Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, was a prominent Spanish mystic                                                                                                                                        master mystic poet and writer during the Spanish Golden age of 
                                                         and Carmelite nun.  As a contemporary of John of the Cross, Teresa de                                                                                                                                     literature. St. John of the Cross became a Carmelite monk in 1563 and 
                                                         Avila worked with St. John in reforming the Carmelite order, which had                                                                                                                                    helped St. Teresa of Avila to reform the Carmelite order.  He was 
                                                         become lax and lost its way.                                                                                                                                                                              imprisoned and endured persecution for his efforts.  St. John has been 
                                                         St. Teresa’s book, Interior Castle, is widely treasured as a classic                                                                                                                                      compared with such great writers as St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas. 
                                                         mystical writing and part of the Spanish Renaissance.                                                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   John of the Cross is known for his poetry.  For our discussion, we will 
                                                         The book is a tour guide through prayer using the metaphor of                                                                                                                                             utilize his own written commentary on his poem; Dark Night. St. John 
                                                         mansions.  Like St. John, she deals with the spiritual quest for unity with                                                                                                                               chose the term "dark night" to describe the journey of the soul from 
                                                         God in what she refers to as the 7th Mansion.  Among the book’s great                                                                                                                                     darkness in to the light of a purified union with God.   His commentary  
                                                         value is its spiritual perspective on prayer.                                                                                                                                                             on the poem, entitled Dark Night of the Soul, grapples with man’s 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   relationship with God.  The book explores the poem’s subjects of man’s 
              In honor of Mother’s Day, join us for talk and tea on May 13 at 1 pm. We’ll reflect on Teresa of                                                                                                           failings including pride, avarice, and envy.  It considers the afflictions and pain suffered by the 
              Avila’s spiritual guide, Interior Castle over tea refreshments.                                                                                                                                            soul, and how we can reach divine love and union with God. (Paraphrase from the London Times 
              Participants are encouraged to read Interior Castle prior to our “talk and tea.”  Many editions are                                                                                                        review of interpretation by E. Allison Peers). 
              available. For unity, Paula recommends the translation by E. Allison Peers, available from such                                                                                                             
              publishers as Dover Thrift Editions and the Image Classic series. Also available e-book and PDF                                                                                                            Participants are encouraged to read the poem Dark Night, and the commentary:  Dark Night of 
              download.                                                                                                                                                                                                  the Soul prior to our meeting.  The poem is readily available on-line.  Many editions of the 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         commentary are available.   For unity, Paula recommends the translation of Dark Night of the 
              In many ways St. Teresa is the embodiment of 16th century feminism.   When she reimagined                                                                                                                  Soul, by E. Allison Peers, available from such publishers as Dover Thrift Editions and the Image 
              the Carmelite communities she insisted that each of her nuns must have her own cell—they did                                                                                                               Classic series. Also available in e-book and PDF download form.   
              not live/sleep in a dormitory.  Teresa was promoting "a room of one's own" long before Virginia                                                                                                              
              Woolf wrote her essay.  She also taught her "daughters" to take their religious experience                                                                                                                 This course is for those whose seek to deeper their relationship to God through study and 
              seriously.  Like Ignatius Loyola, Teresa believed that God could/would communicate with                                                                                                                    learning.   As another reader of the work stated, “this is for those who want to go deep,” into 
              individuals.  All religious experience had a personal dimension and it was not always mediated                                                                                                             their Christian faith.  In his translation, Peters says, “St. John of the Cross explains the four 
              by the church.                                                                                                                                                                                             benefits of the dark night: 1. Delight of peace, 2. Habitual remembrance and thought of God,  
              —Julie Collins, Chair, Christian Formation Committee, religious educator and spiritual director                                                                                                            3. Cleanness and purity of soul, 4. Practice of the virtues.”    
              What: Teresa de Avila: Mother of Souls                                                                                                                                                                     What: This light guided me: John of the Cross    
              Date & Time: Sunday, May 13, 1-2:30 pm                                                                                                                                                                     Date & Time: Sunday, May 20, 1-2:30 pm  
              Facilitator: Paula Mays                                                                                                                                                                                    Facilitator: Paula Mays 
              RSVP: Space is limited.  Please email registrations@cathedral.org                                                                                                                                          RSVP: Space is limited.  Please email registrations@cathedral.org 
              Offered through the Office of the Vicar, Washington National Cathedral. For additional congregation                                                                                                        Offered through the Office of the Vicar, Washington National Cathedral. For additional congregation 
              programs visit: https://cathedral.org/congregation/events                                                                                                                                                  programs visit: https://cathedral.org/congregation/events