St. Teresa of Avila lived in the 1500s in Spain. She belonged to the Discalced Carmelite Order and was a reformer of her community. She began living her religious life in grave mediocrity, but underwent a deep conversion and made great progress in the spiritual life. She is a mystic and a reformer of her religious order. 

St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle was written under obedience and with a very cautious humility. She was asked to simply write on prayer. [1] St. Teresa uses the analogy of a castle to explain the life of prayer of a soul. She describes seven different rooms in the castle. Each room or mansion is a different level of union of the soul with God.

In the first room, one learns that a castle exists and begins to explore prayer as a conversation instead of only memorized petitions. At this level, the soul is very easily distracted and tempted. In the second room, the soul is capable of hearing God speak to it through persons and books. This soul is very receptive as it is beginning to understand, but in this stage there are also many attacks from the enemy.

In the third room, the soul brings forth action from what it has heard and understood of God. At this level, the soul must work arduously to cultivate humility of heart, otherwise there is a great temptation to grow prideful of good works. In the fourth room, the soul experiences consolation in prayer. This soul seeks quiet and recollection to enjoy being in the presence of God. In the fifth room, the soul enters into a prayer of union where it cannot be tempted or distracted. The flesh has no power over this soul which seeks to satisfy itself with transcendental goods alone.

In the sixth room, the soul longs to be in heaven and has pity for all those who do not know the Lord. The soul in this stage has a very delicate conscience and is sensitive to what offends the Lord. In the seventh room, the soul desires to remain on earth indefinitely to serve the Lord. This soul is absorbed in God and even seeks suffering to live in communion with Christ.

This book is a powerful insight on the capacity man has for union with God. It seeks to inspire prayerful souls and guide those who are already walking on the path of holiness to continue their pursuit. St. Teresa uses the image of a castle or mansions which brings the idea of prayer into a daily civilian atmosphere.[2] This speaks of the importance of prayer, not only for cloistered religious, but for all peoples. Interior Castle is a spiritual classic which has a lesson to teach every heart. 

[1] Katherine Greib, “Teresa of Ávila: The Interior Castle,” Theology Today 62, no. 2 (2005), 230.

[2] E.W.T. Dicken, “The Imagery of the Interior Castle and its Implications,” Ephemerides Carmeliticae 21, no.1 (1970), 201.