The Third Spiritual Alphabet by Francisco de Osuna  in the Life and Work of Saint Teresa of Jesus:  A Theological Intertextual Study

Te Tird Spiritual Alphabet by Francisco de Osuna occupied a unique place in the life of Saint Teresa of Jesus. Far from being a superfcial reading, her repeated engagement with this work – which she herself took as her spiritual master – enabled her to assimilate its contents profoundly. Tis study examines the nature, extent, and signifcance of Osuna’s infuence on Teresa, considering both its spiritual and literary dimensions. Te study therefore pursues a twofold aim: frst, to present the life and writings of the Franciscan mystic; second, to identify and analyze the reception of Te Tird Spiritual Alphabet in the life and works of Saint Teresa. Among the method­ological approaches employed, particular emphasis is placed on intertextual analysis, which makes it possible to illuminate the relationships between the two authors’ texts and to reconstruct Teresa’s textual dialogue with Osuna’s work. Te fnal part of the study outlines how these fndings might inform future research on the spiritual and literary legacy of Teresa of Ávila.