St. Teresa of Ávila

A Fiery Spirit from the Start

Born in 1515 in Ávila, Spain, St. Teresa of Ávila showed deep spiritual longing from a young age. With a strong will and magnetic personality, she was beloved by many but often torn between worldly pleasures and heavenly desires. After her mother’s death and a brief period of spiritual wavering, Teresa entered the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation, eventually embracing a vocation marked by suffering, illness, and profound mystical experience.

Conversion and a Call to Reform

Though she struggled with spiritual mediocrity for 17 years, Teresa experienced a deep conversion around the age of 40. Her heart was set ablaze with love for God, leading her to deeper prayer and detachment from worldly attachments. She became known for her visions, levitations, and raptures—though she remained humble and even humorous about these mystical experiences. Teresa longed to return her order to its contemplative roots and founded her first reformed convent, St. Joseph’s, in 1562 despite public scandal and threats of the Inquisition.

Legacy of Prayer, Courage, and Reform

Over the next two decades, Teresa founded 17 convents and monasteries, often facing fierce resistance from Church leaders and communities. Alongside St. John of the Cross, she launched the Discalced Carmelite Reform, rooted in poverty, simplicity, and prayer. Despite poor health and constant travel, Teresa authored spiritual masterpieces like Interior Castle and Way of Perfection, which remain foundational texts on prayer.

Enduring Influence

St. Teresa died in 1582 and was canonized in 1622. In 1970, she became the first female Doctor of the Church. Bold, brilliant, and deeply in love with Christ, she is a patron of spiritual seekers and reformers—reminding the world that true holiness is both contemplative and active, intimate and courageous.