# Formation I, Year A – The Way of Perfection > [!NOTE] > OCDS Formation I, Year A > *The Way of Perfection* – St. Teresa of Ávila > Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites > Approved for use in the United States (2024) ## Table of Contents [[f1a-foreword|Foreword]] [[f1a-preparation|Preparation for Making the First Promise]] [[f1a-introduction|Introduction to Formation I, Year A]] [[f1a-essential-themes|The Essential Themes for Formation I, Year A]] [[f1a-session-01|Session 1, Introduction — An Overview of the Life of St. Teresa of Ávila]] [[f1a-session-02|Session 2, Prayer for Apostolic Purpose]] [[f1a-session-03|Session 3, Foundation of Prayer and the Atmosphere Favorable to Meditation and Contemplation]] [[f1a-session-04|Session 4, Foundation of Prayer (continued)]] [[f1a-session-05|Session 5, Fundamental Attitudes and Convictions Necessary for Growth in Prayer]] [[f1a-session-06|Session 6, Vocal and Mental Prayer]] [[f1a-session-07|Session 7, Prayer of Recollection]] [[f1a-session-08|Session 8, The Prayer of Quiet]] [[f1a-session-09|Session 9, Unitive Life — Contemplation]] [[f1a-session-10|Session 10, Eucharist — Sacramental and Spiritual Communion]] [[f1a-session-11|Session 11, God's Merciful Love — Effects of Prayer]] [[f1a-session-12|Session 12, Continual Search for Divine Union]] [[f1a-appendix-a|Appendix A, Essential Themes — Way of Perfection Study Edition Glossary]] [[f1a-appendix-b|Appendix B, Life Introduction — The Book of Her Life]] [[f1a-appendix-c|Appendix C, Biographical Timeline — St. Teresa of Ávila]] [[f1a-appendix-d|Appendix D, Meditation on the Song of Songs 7:3 — St. Teresa of Ávila]] [[f1a-appendix-e|Appendix E, Our First Duties as Carmelites]] [[f1a-appendix-f|Appendix F, Meditative Reading — Chapter 10 of Story of a Soul]] [[f1a-appendix-g|Appendix G, CCC 2697–2708 — Expressions of Prayer]] [[f1a-appendix-h|Appendix H, Excerpts from The Practice of the Presence of God]] [[f1a-appendix-i|Appendix I, Sayings of Light and Love — St. John of the Cross]] [[f1a-appendix-j|Appendix J, St. Thérèse's Act of Oblation to Merciful Love]] --- ![[maps/bibliography#^biblio-ocds-f1a|OCDS Formation I Year A]]