Teresa of Avila: Context and Tradition

Ci spiace, ma questo articolo è disponibile soltanto in English.

Professor: Sr. Jo Robson, o.c.d.

Justification
For nearly five hundred years, Teresa of Avila has been a towering figure in the field of Christian spirituality; her works read around the world, and influencing countless individuals over the centuries. With such a wide-ranging impact, it is sometimes difficult to remember that Teresa herself lived in, and wrote out of, a very specific historical context, and was rooted in the Christian tradition which she inherited from previous centuries. This dual combination of context and tradition formed Teresa’s thinking, governed the opportunities available to her, and determined the issues to which she turned her attention.

Goals
The course seeks to situate Teresa in the sixteenth-century Spanish context in which she lived, and the Christian tradition which she inherited. In particular, it will explore how Teresa used both her contemporary situation and the legacy of tradition to guide and formulate her own understanding, enabling them to become the springboard for the distinctive and innovative thought which defines her teaching.

Content
The course will examine some of the key features of Teresa’s cultural, social and religious context, including the development of the printing industry, the humanist movement, and the spiritual renewal of the early part of the sixteenth century. It will also explore Teresa’s use of patristic authors such as Jerome and Augustine, and the reception history of key biblical texts, as she developed her teaching in the areas of religious life, prayer and spirituality.

Method 
The course (12 lessons in six sessions) is offered in live Zoom sessions with the possibility of interaction including group discussion and questions and answers.

Criteria for evaluation
The final assessment consists in written paper (4 – 6 pages) or an oral exam (10 – 15 minutes) on Zoom. Further details will be communicated on the Moodle platform.

Time distribution
12 hours in class, plus additional time for follow up reading and preparation for the evaluation.

 Essential bibliography

  • BILINKOFF, Jodi, The Avila of Saint Teresa: Religious Reform in a Sixteenth-Century City, Ithaca and London, Cornell University Press, 1989.
  • Kavanaugh, Kieran and Rodriguez, Otilio, The Collected Works of St Teresa of Avila, Volumes I-III, ICS Publications, Washington D.C., 1980-1987.
  • O’KEEFE, Mark, In Context: Teresa of Ávila, John of the Cross, and Their World, ICS Publications, Washington D.C., 2020.
  • WILLIAMS, Rowan, Teresa of Avila, Outstanding Christian Thinkers Series, London, Geoffrey Chapman, 1991.

Further specific bibliographies will be provided for each session.