Let Nothing Disturb You: 30 Days with Teresa of Avila
Great Spiritual Teachers
John Kirvan (Editor)
ISBN 9781594711527
eISBN 9781594713132
ASIN B01N9C7W4K
This is the third volume in the Great Spiritual Teachers series I have read, Last year I read Born to Do This: 30 Days with Joan of Arc by Jaymie Stuart Wolfe, and loved it and the concept of the series. I have read much by and about Teresa of Avila and was excited to work my way through this volume. I picked this as the third in the series to read because of an already growing devotion to Saint Teresa.
The description of this volume states:
“Discover the timeless spiritual counsel of St. Teresa of Avila, first woman Doctor of the Church, in an easily accessible format. In Let Nothing Disturb You, selections from Teresa's writings have been carefully chosen and arranged for morning and evening meditation.”
About the series we are informed:
“Each book in the Great Spiritual Teachers series provides a month of daily readings from one of Christianity's most beloved spiritual guides. For each day there is a brief and accessible morning meditation drawn from the mystic's writings, a simple mantra for use throughout the day, and a night prayer to focus one's thoughts as the day ends. These easy-to-use books are the perfect prayer companion for busy people who want to root their spiritual practice in the solid ground of these great spiritual teachers.”
I believe there are 15 volumes in this series currently in print, and a number that are currently out of print, The oldest I have seen are from the mid 90’s and it looks like they went through a rebranding and format change in the mid 00’s, and they have undergone yet another rebranding in the 2020’s including some new titles available in the series. I must admit I do not recall running across this series prior to that first volume on Joan. I have however added a number of them to my ‘to be read list’. I love the most recent rebranding, and hope Ave Maria completes the rebranding across all volumes. But back to this work.
While reading this I only highlighted a few passages, they were:
“A mystical renaissance is at work in our world. Like a subtle field of grace that surrounds our world, individuals everywhere are exploring the seductive invitation to develop a joyful and intimate relationship with God. In keeping with the nature of this mystical awakening, more and more people are discovering the need to develop a more refined spiritual path. This new path that so many are drawn to today embodies characteristics once so familiar to the great mystics of the medieval and Renaissance eras. These mystics, our great spiritual teachers, include Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, Francis of Assisi, St. John the Evangelist, Meister Eckhart, Francis de Sales, Catherine of Sienna, Thérèse of Lisieux, Evelyn Underhill, and Mother Teresa in modern times.”
“Simply described, these mystics drew their strength from a devotion to prayer, contemplation, and self-reflection. They knew that a daily practice of time alone with God was required to review the day and reflect upon the well being and harmony of their souls. Today, we are rediscovering the way in which they knew God. For all their differences, the common ground these mystics shared was a devotion to prayer and an unyielding faith in their mystical relationships with God.”
“The writings of Teresa and other mystics are alive and full of grace in this series—30 Days with a Great Spiritual Teacher. To read one of their prayers is to read about their experiences of God. Take this grace into you and let it take you away from the here and now of your life. Let the wisdom of these teachers hover over your life. Make contact with your own eternal self.”
A sample reflection is:
“DAY THIRTEEN
MY DAY BEGINS
The Lord said to me:
“Very few there are who love me in truth.
For to love me in this way is to know
that everything that is not pleasing to me
is a deception.
But if you love me in truth
I will not hide anything from you.”
I see now that it is a great blessing
to set no store by anything that is not true,
anything that is not pleasing to my Lord.
I now look upon anything
that is not directed to the service of God
as vanity and deception.
I have become firmly resolved
to carry out with all my might
even the smallest detail of divine scripture.
I have come to believe
that there is no obstacle that I cannot overcome
in my desire to live in the truth,
to speak only of things that are true,
that is, things that bring us closer to God,
that go far beyond any worldly wisdom.
The Lord has invited us to walk in truth
in the presence of Truth itself.
The truth of which the Lord speaks,
is Truth without beginning or end.
Upon this Truth all other truths depend,
just as all other loves depend on this Love,
and all other greatness upon this Greatness.
For it comes down to this:
The Lord is Truth itself.
All else is a lie.
ALL THROUGH THE DAY
There is no obstacle that I cannot overcome.
MY DAY IS ENDING
Let nothing, O Lord,
disturb the silence of this night.
Let nothing frighten me.
Grant me rest
in the knowledge
that there is no obstacle
to your love
that cannot be overcome,
if I only accept your invitation to walk in truth
in the presence of you who are Truth itself.
Upon you all other truths depend,
just as all other loves depend on your love,
and all other greatness upon your greatness.
As darkness descends
grant me a quiet night.
Place your truth on my lips and in my heart.
For it comes down to this:
You, Lord, are Truth itself.
All else is a lie.
If I speak your truth, O Lord God,
I will want for nothing.
You alone suffice.”
I must admit I engaged much more deeply with the first volume I read in this series than the next 2 I read. I have at least a half dozen other books in this series I want to read. I will likely do a volume a month over the next year. I did enjoy this volume. I just did not add any of the prayers to my daily prayers.
This is a great volume that any Catholic would benefit from reading. I can easily recommend this volume and look forward to reading others in the series.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books in the Great Spiritual Teachers Series:
Abide in love: the Gospel spirituality of John the Evangelist – John Kirvan
All Will Be Well - Julian of Norwich and John Kirvan
Come into the Silence - Thomas Merton
Draw Ever Closer - Henri J. M. Nouwen and Robert M. Hamma
Fear Not the Night - John of the Cross and John Kirvan
Grace Through Simplicity - Evelyn Underhill and John Kirvan
Let There Be Light - Hildegard of Bingen and John Kirvan
Living in the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence and John Kirvan
Love Without Measure - Mother Teresa and John Kirvan
Peace of Heart - Saint Francis of Assisi and John Kirvan
Rejoice in the Lord - Augustine of Hippo and Trenton Mattingly
Set Aside Every Fear - Catherine of Siena and John Kirvan
Set Your Heart Free - Francis de Sales and John Kirvan
That you may have life: let the mystics be your guide for Lent - John Kirvan
True Serenity - Thomas a Kempis and John Kirvan
We Are Beloved - Thea Bowman and Karianna Frey MS
Where Only Love Can Go - The Cloud of Unknowing and John Kirvan
You Shall Not Want: The Psalms - Richard Chilson
Hope Without Borders: 30 Days with Frances Xavier Cabrini - Amy J. Cattapan
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