St. Teresa de Avila

St. Teresa de Avila was born on March 28, 1515. As a young child she tried to run away with her brother Rodrigo to seek martyrdom, but was caught by her uncle, forcing the children to return home. In 1531, her father brought her to the Augustinian nuns at Santa Maria de Gracia for guidance. In 1532 she returned home to live with her sister, but her time at the convent made her realize that she wanted to become a nun. On November 2, 1535, she entered the Carmelite Monestary.

After Teresa devoted her life to God, she became very ill for many years. Her eventual cure was attributed to the healing of St. Joseph. During these years of suffering, Teresa practiced mental prayer and received mystical visions from God. This period of her life of mystical experiences lasted for 18 years.

Teresa made the decision to always take the most perfect course in her life, but her current monastary was not the best place to lead the life to which she felt called. During her years as a Carmelite nun, Teresa was given permission to reform and establish her own convents of nuns. She eventually established her own groups of nuns and friars in several locations across Spain.

Teresa wrote several books about her personal spiritual experiences, including Interior Castle and Way of Perfection. St. Teresa de Avila died in Alba on October 4, 1582.