The Carmelites: What a great blessing to the Church! St. Simon Stock, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross….
Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus: Four Studies on Her Spiritual Life (London: Burns Oates and Washbourne, 1926, cloth, two imprimaturs including one by Fr. Bede Jarrett, O.P.). Early collection of articles by theologians taking St. Therese’s spirituality seriously.
My Beloved: The Story of a Carmelite Nun by Mother Catherine Thomas (Garden City, NY: Image, 1959, pb, 1954 imprimatur). Great and well-written book on one woman’s path into Carmelite life and subsequent experience.
Saint Teresa: A Journey in Spain by Elizabeth Hamilton (NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1959, cloth, Cdl. Spellman imprimatur). A lovely personal story of a search for the inimitable St. Teresa and her Spanish context.
Saint Teresa of Avila: A Biography by William Thomas Walsh (Milwaukee: Bruce Publishing, 1954, cloth, 1943 imprimatur). Highly-regarded historian Walsh offers a comprehensive biography of the foundress of the Discalced Carmelites.
I Want to See God: A Practical Synthesis of Carmelite Spirituality (Chicago: Fides, 1953, cloth, imprimatur) and I Am a Daughter of the Church: A Practical Synthesis of Carmelite Spirituality, Volume II both by Pere Marie-Eugene, O.C.D. (Chicago: Fides, 1955, hc, imprimatur). A deep dive into Carmelite spirituality and theology.
Two good books along these lines are Fire Within by Fr. Tom Dubay about Teresa and John of the Cross and prayer; and, Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel, which has reflections for every day of the year.
Etc.: There has been a great deal of talk about the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs and their possible connection to religion. Huxley’s doors of perception are in no way to be confused with the narrow gate that leads to eternal life.
Late addition: Let’s not forget the O.Carms, the Carmelites who did not join in St. Teresa’s reforms. St. Joseph’s parish in Troy, NY, is staffed by O.Carm priests who regularly celebrate the ancient Carmelite Rite Mass. Fr. Mario Dittami’s book, “…I Thee Wed” (Chicago: Paluch/Lumen, 1954, pb, imprimatur) is a worthy companion to Fulton Sheen’s Three to get Married. “[S]ome of us are strong, some of us are weak—but not even the weakest man be lost, provided he is willing to do his best, because even a poor job of human trying is powerfully bolstered by the sacraments” (13).
Second late addition: My review of Andrew McNabb’s excellent Walking With Father Vincent (Gracewing, 2023) is now out in the May/June, 2024 issue of the St. Austin Review (42-43).