St. Teresa of Avila

Teresa is an older member of a 16th century monastery given the task of writing a discourse on prayer. The discourse is meant to serve as instruction on the topic for her monastic sisters. She is in every way an older sister to the women who share the monastery with her, referring to stories they have confided to her in the past, maintaining the secrecy of each woman's identity, and telling their stories with insight and compassion. She also describes having written many such assignments in the past, but confesses being particularly nervous about undertaking such an important topic as prayer. Throughout the book, she includes prayers in her writing that God will clarify her thinking about a subject so she can communicate it clearly. She also interjects apologies occasionally for her thoughts wandering to include sideline stories, and asks that her readers forgive her...