FORMATION RESOURCES
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St Teresa of Avila
In 2015, preparation for the Quincentenary of the birth of St Teresa of Avila, Fr Matt kindly provided us with set of study guides for Teresa’s major works: Her Life, the Interior Castle, the Foundations and her Letters.
Each document highlights a particular area which we can use for study and discussion within our groups or simply use for personal formation to deepen our understanding of Teresa’s experience of the spiritual journey.
The Letters
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The Book of Her Life
The Book of Her Foundations
The Interior Castle
The Way of Perfection
General material on St Teresa of Avila
St Thérèse of Lisieux
God Is Greater Than Our Heart: Thérèse of the Child Jesus and prayer
Sr. Aline Eraly, OCD
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Deep loneliness and pain – Thérèse of Lisieux
Annette Goulden, OCDS
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The relevance of Thérèse of Lisieux in our daily lives, relationships and prayer
Annette Goulden, OCDS
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Talks at the Secular Order Annual Retreat 2009, on arrival of the relics of St Thérèse
Fr Matt Blake OCD
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Link to Archive of the Carmel of Lisieux. Everything needed to find out more about Thérèse, giving rich insights into her work and the genesis of her thinking.
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St John of the Cross
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Commentaries on the Living Flame of Love by Fr Tony Cussen:
Prologue and Stanza 1 Stanza 2 Stanza 3 Stanza 4
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Introduction to the Living Flame of Love by Fr Iain Matthew
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The Dark Night of the Soul: an opportunity for growth and freedom
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Elizabeth of the Trinity
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Notes from a talk by Roderick Campbell Guion OCDS
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A commentary on Elizabeth's 'Prayer to the Trinity'
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Edith Stein
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Notes from talks by Fr Matt Blake OCD
Edith Stein: Her Life and Teaching
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The Blessed Virgin Mary
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Mary, a Woman of Prayer, Fr James McCaffrey OCD
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Waiting for the Holy Spirit with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Sr Stephanie OCD
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Constitutions and Counsels
Notes from talks by Fr Matt Blake OCD
Constitution No. 6 Constitution No. 9
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Apostolicam Actuositatem
Notes highlighting the significance for the Secular Order of the Second Vatican Council's
Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity
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Resources on Prayer
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The Breadth and Depth of Christian Prayer
The transcript of a series of eight talks by Fr Matt Blake OCD, based on St Teresa of Avila’s four stages of prayer (Book of her Life Chapters 11-22).
Links to the original audio files may can be found here.
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A short introduction to the Liturgy of the Hours
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Other useful resources
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A Lent talk by Fr Liam Finnerty OCD:
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