Introduction

[John]

Once again I've been unable to find questions on our book, and the LitLovers generic questions for nonfiction just don't seem applicable. Unless someone has a better idea, I will default to the standard of providing chapter headings to organize discussion. You can post general thoughts, not tied to a particular chapter, here.

Start with letting us know, are you reading St. Teresa with us? How are you liking it?

[John]

I have headings posted for the first seven chapters. I know these chapters are really short, so some of you are probably already well past this point in the book. I will try to get the rest of the chapter headings done tomorrow.

I will definitely feel prodded if reflections get posted for these. ;-)

[Jill]

I am reading our very tattered copy. Skipped over all the introductory remarks, but a friend told me this was written (in obedience to her confessor) when many questions were being raised about her orthodoxy, authenticity, etc. That makes her stated wish that she could tell us more about her sinfulness more striking. However, the lack of detail makes it hard to figure out just what she is talking about much of the time. What were these great "sins"? Receiving any visitor at all in the parlor? Wanting to please others? Wanting to be healed of her illness? Not praying 24/7? She seems way too scrupulous to me.
She also thinks herself unique because she hasn't read of any other saints who fell away after being converted. To me, that's not a condemnation of her but of the hagiography of her day!

[John]

Jill wrote: "I am reading our very tattered copy. Skipped over all the introductory remarks, but a friend told me this was written (in obedience to her confessor) when many questions were being raised about her..."

Oooops, I skipped over it as well. I will go back and read them.

[Sheila]

Confession time: I've been reading the life of the other Therese. Will start over with Theresa's autobiography asap.

[Manuel]

Jill wrote: "I am reading our very tattered copy. Skipped over all the introductory remarks, but a friend told me this was written (in obedience to her confessor) when many questions were being raised about her..."
Jill, her confessors ordered her to leave all the details out when speaking about her "sins." The probable reason: because they thought that those sins were not sins at all. In fact, the reason why she was sent one year and a half to be educated in a monastery was probably (look at point 9 in chapter 2) because she was getting too much attached to a young man. But she also states that, according to her confessor, that relation was not wrong in itself. What happened then?
I believe she was being scrupulous. She had the inkling that God was calling her to be a nun, and anything that went against that she held to separate her from God. She also had the idea that being a nun (or a friar) was the easiest way to be saved, and that living "in the world" was dangerous. This is the reason why (in chapter 2 point 2) she says that it would have been better if his father had forbidden his cousins to visit them. It will be apparent in further chapters too.
This is curious, for she had the example of her parents to prove that it was possible to live a Christian life in marriage. I don't think she ever had doubts about her parents salvation.