St. Teresa of Avila

Rebroadcast of the long-running radio program, "The Ave Maria Hour,” a presentation of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. www.AtonementFriars.org

Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada was born in Avila, Spain in 1515. Her parents were pious Catholics and in some ways inspired their daughter to take up a life of prayer. As a young child, Teresa showed signs of a deeply religious nature; she would often retreat into silence for prayer and would enjoy giving alms to the poor.

At the age of 16, Teresa’s father sent her to a convent school to be educated. There Teresa found her calling to a spiritual life and became a nun of the Carmelite Order. Shortly after becoming a nun, Teresa suffered a severe bout of malaria, which left her in great pain for a long period. At one point it was feared that her illness was so severe that she would not be able to recover. However, during this period of intense physical pain, she began to experience divine visions and an inner sense of peace.

At the age of 43, St. Teresa decided to found a new order recommitting to the values of poverty and simplicity. She founded the convent of Discalced Carmelite Nuns and devoted much of the rest of her life to travelling around Spain setting up new convents.

St. Teresa of Avila died in 1582 at the age of 67. She was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. Her feast day is celebrated on October 15.