Saint Teresa, Protestant Reformation, and European Shifts
Saint Teresa of Ávila
Saint Teresa, born in 1515 in Ávila, was the sixth of twelve siblings. At age 15, her father sent her to the Augustinian convent in Ávila. Of a rebellious and dreamy spirit, she always showed a special interest in reading the lives of the saints, which led to reading novels and books about knights with her brother Rodrigo. She had a special sensitivity toward solitude and prayer. At 20, she ran away to join the Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation.
Shortly after, she suffered
Read MoreRamon Llull: Life, Works, and Missionary Efforts
Ramon Llull
Ramon Llull (1232-1316) is considered one of the creators of literary Catalan and one of the first to use a Romance language to transmit philosophical, scientific, and technical knowledge, in addition to novels. He was a writer, mystic, scientific popularizer, missionary, theologian, Franciscan monk, and alchemist. He wrote in Occitan, Catalan, Arabic, and Latin.
From Birth to Conversion
Llull was born in Palma de Mallorca between 1232 and 1233. He was the son of Ramon Amat Llull and Isabel
Read MoreMosque-Cathedral of Córdoba: History and Architectural Marvels
The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba: A Historical Overview
During the Islamic occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, dividing spaces for different religions was a common practice, especially when conquests involved peaceful surrenders.
Early History (784-788)
- 784-785: Muslims in the Mozarabic community purchased their share of the Basilica, eventually acquiring the entire site after demolishing the existing structure.
- 785-786: Construction began on the first mosque of Córdoba, financed by Emir Abd-al Rahman
Gratian: The Father of Canon Law
Gratian: Father of Canon Law (12th Century)
Gratian (Medieval Latin: Gratianus) was a canon lawyer from Bologna. He flourished in the mid-12th century. Little else is known about his biography.
He is sometimes incorrectly referred to as Franciscus Gratianus, Johannes Gratian, or Giovanni Graziano. For a long time, he was believed to have been born at the end of the 11th century, at Chiusi in Tuscany. He was said to have become a monk at Camaldoli and then he taught at the monastery of St. Felix in
Read MoreUnderstanding the Book of Exodus: Themes and Symbols
Terms
- Decalogue: The Ten Commandments.
- Eucharist: A Christian ceremony involving the sharing of bread and wine, representing the body and blood of Jesus.
- Passover: A Jewish holiday celebrating the Israelites’ freedom from slavery in Egypt.
- Covenant: A sacred agreement between God and people.
- Prophecy: A message about the future from God.
- Burning Bush: A bush that burned without being consumed, where God spoke to Moses.
- Disciples: Followers of Jesus who learned from him.
- Prophets: People chosen by God to
Understanding the Core Principles of Islam
The Features of a Muslim’s Personality
Believing in theory alone is not enough; it is not real faith. Muslims should put into practice everything which reflects the Muslim’s faith.
The Main Principles Observed in Islamic Legislation
- The principle of ease, and abandoning objection and oppression. Allah says: “Allah does not want to make things difficult for you” [2:185]
- The Principle of justice: all Islamic legislation ensures justice between members of the whole community. This principle preserves