Two Approaches to Spiritual Growth: The Path of Growth of Teresa of Ávila and the Little Way of Thérèse of Lisieux

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https://doi.org/10.54937/2026.9788056112410.193-196

Autor/ Author: Lukáš Vaník

In: DOKOR 2025. Recenzovaný zborník z interdisciplinárnej doktorandskej konferencie

ISBN: 978-80-561-1241-0

Strany/ Page Range: 193-196

Rok vydania/ Publication Year: 2026

Jazyk/ Language: Slovak

Vydavateľ/ Publisher: VERBUM – vydavateľstvo Katolíckej univerzity v Ružomberku

Abstrakt/ Abstract: Christians have strived for spiritual growth and deeper sanctification since the birth of the Church. Over the course of history, various approaches to the spiritual life gradually took shape. Already in the earliest periods, spiritual teachers distinguished between those who were just beginning their journey (beginners), those who were making progress (the advanced), and those who had already travelled far (the perfect). These three groups correspond to the traditional stages of the spiritual life: the way of purification, the way of illumination, and the way of union.
In the modern history of the Catholic Church, however, a new and in many respects innovative approach began to emerge. One of its pioneers was Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. This approach places less emphasis on laborious and systematic ascent through “degrees of perfection” or on measuring one’s progress, and instead highlights simplicity, trust, and complete surrender to God.
The aim of this study is to examine these different approaches to spiritual growth and to show their inner connections as well as their continuing relevance for Christians in the modern world.

Kľúčové slová/ Keywords: approach, growth, sanctification, ways

Citácia/ How to cite:

VANÍK, Lukáš, 2026. Dva prístupy k duchovnému rastu: cesta rastu Terézie z Avily a malá cesta Terézie z Lisieux. In: DOKOR 2025. Recenzovaný zborník z interdisciplinárnej doktorandskej konferencie. Online. Ružomberok: VERBUM – vydavateľstvo Katolíckej univerzity v Ružomberku, 2026, s. 193-196. ISBN 978-80-561-1241-0. Dostupné na: https://doi.org/10.54937/2026.9788056112410.193-196

Toto dielo je publikované pod/ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.