The message of To Believe in Jesus is heartening, if disconcerting, for it stands a common assumption of religious writing on its head.

But, as Ruth Burrows points out, what all too often happens in practice is that the day-to-day lifestyle becomes adapted to non-passion: she argues, passionately, that faithful observance - the horarium, the 'detachment from created things' ...

This is Ruth Burrow's autobiography - the account of a life empty of outward incident after her early years, but rich with her own spiritual growth.

Ruth Burrows is the pen name of Sister Rachel, OCD, a nun in the Carmelite monastery in Quidenham, England, and the author of more than a dozen books on prayer and the mystical life.

But, seen in that way, prayer confronts us with questions, problems, confusion and discouragement. Ruth Burrows is convinced of the importance of correcting this view.

The Carmelite best-selling author writes particularly for laypeople about contemplation and the life of prayer. The message of To Believe in Jesus is heartening, if disconcerting, for it stands a common assumption on its head.

In this book, she distills the wisdom and experience gained from her life as a Carmelite nun into a vigorous, compelling presentation of what it means to be a Christian.

But, as Ruth Burrows points out, what all too often happens in practice is that the day-to-day life-style becomes adapted to non-passion: she argues, passionately, that faithful observance - the horarium, the 'detachment from created things ...

A penetrating interpretation of St. Teresa of Avila's central teaching on prayer, by a widely-praised and best selling author.

Ruth Burrows draws together insights from Scripture and theology, as well as her experience as a Carmelite for seventy years.