Saint Teresa of Jesus

SAINT TERESA OF JESUS (Ávila, 1515 – Alba de Tormes, 1582).
“The Works of St. Teresa of Jesus, Foundress of the Reform of the Discalced Sisters and Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.” Part One, containing her life story.
Printer: Balthasar Moreto’s Plantinian Press. Antwerp, 1630.
It features a chalcographic engraved title page depicting Saint Teresa writing, along with allegorical motifs and coats of arms.
Parchment covers.
Significant damage to the spine, partial loss of parchment, exposed stitching and ribbing, scuffs, stains, and wear and tear typical of its use and age.
Measurements: 23.5 x 17 x 5 cm.

Saint Teresa of Jesus was a Spanish nun, mystic, writer, and reformer, founder of the Discalced Carmelites, and one of the key figures in the spiritual literature of the Golden Age. She entered the Carmelite monastery of La Encarnación in Ávila and in 1562 founded the convent of San José, marking the beginning of the Teresian reform. Among her major works are *The Book of Her Life*, *The Way of Perfection*, *The Interior Castle*, and *The Book of Foundations*. She was canonized in 1622, a few years before the publication of this volume, and in 1970 she was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. This edition of her works was printed in Antwerp in 1630 by Balthasar Moreto at the prestigious Plantin Press; the first part is devoted to her autobiographical account, or “Life.”