St Teresa of Avila

Family Life 1505-1528:

Nov 11, 1505

When Saint Teresa was 16, she was convinced she was a sinner. She was a teenager who was only interested in boys, clothes and flirting. Her father than assigned her to the nun’s convent to be educated. She did not enjoy it but then realised her love for God was growing. Alonso who was Teresa’s father, he was married to Catalina Del peso in 1505. 1507 two years later she died. Alonso married again to Beatriz de Ahumada, Teresa’s mother. In 1528 her mother had died leaving behind 10 children.

Date and Place of Birth

Mar 28, 1515

St Teresa was born in Avila, Spain, on March 28th, 1515

Baptism

Apr 2, 1515

She was baptised at Saint John's Church.

Not a place of prayer

Mar 6, 1531

This convent was filled with visitor’s who came each day and gossiped. Teresa did not feel that the convent was a place of prayer, she felt that it was more of a get together.

Where and what she studied at University?

Sep 5, 1531

St Teresa did not attend university, she was sent to the Augustinian nuns convent at St Maria de Grada in 1531to be educated, she had left after 18 months, because she was ill. Later in 1535, she went to the Carmelite convent of the incarnation at Avila, to study to become a nun. She revised the letters of St Jerome, her uncle had given them to her, St Teresa was determined to have a powerful relationship with God. She tried to renew the reformation of the convent and tried to achieve the best.

Following God

Mar 1, 1535

Teresa and her brother ran away to follow their religious callings. She entered the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation at Avila.

Illness

Mar 2, 1538

Teresa got ill and stayed at her uncle’s house. She fell into a coma and revived after four days however it left her partly paralysed.

Returning to the Convent

Apr 4, 1540

Teresa returned to the convent and remained ill for 3 years.

Family Life

Mar 7, 1543

Her Father had passed away.

Wanting to be Martys

Jun 15, 1552

St Teresa and her brother decided to run away to become martyrs, they were convinced that it was the easiest way to get to heaven. Her uncle caught them, brought her and her brother back home.

Transformation 1554-1555

Mar 7, 1554

Teresa had her transformation once she saw a vision of Jesus wounded and saw she was lacking gratitude towards Jesus’ sufferings. In 1555 she had many visions and began hearing inner voices however people believed she was hearing and seeing the devil.

Controversies she was involved in:

Mar 2, 1563

She received permission from Rome to produce a reformed convent, Teresa struggled as her efforts of reforming had people contrary (against) her and her choices. She moved away from God as she was becoming nervous for the hour of prayer to be over as soon as possible. She renewed her faith as she began to pray again, she was always focused on God by praying and loving him constantly. In her life she was constantly sick, she was always suffering from pain.

Work Achievements 1560-1582

Mar 4, 1566

St Teresa was a writer of the Counter Reformation, and a theologian of contemplative (thoughtful) life through mental prayer. She was a reformer (campaigner) of the Carmelite Order.
Teresa’s writings were created for educational purposes, she was incredible in the spiritual literature of the Catholic Church. During 1566 Teresa wrote Camino de Perfection (Way of Perfection) to explain to the nuns how to reach their goals.

Work Achievements 1560-1582

Mar 4, 1566

1580 she wrote her greatest work; The interior castle describing the many stages of spiritual evolution (development) leading to full prayer. She also wrote Las Fundaciones (Foundations) from 1573 to 1582, so they would remember the early history. She wrote many things like: autobiographies, meditations, and relaciones (which was an extension of an autobiography). Also in 1565 she wrote one of her greatest books, on prayer which is known as “The life of Saint Teresa of Avila".

New Beginning

May 29, 1567

Practices in convents were the opposite of the convent St Teresa went to when she was sixteen. Teresa’s work was accepted by a Carmelite general and she travelled all over Spain beginning twelve convents. She handled a lot of conflict during this time.

Date and cause of death:

Oct 4, 1582

St Teresa died on the 4th of October 1582. Her health was always very poor which caused her suffer throughout her life.

Declaration

Mar 7, 1614

She was declared blessed.

When was she canonized?

Jun 27, 1622

St Teresa was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. She was known as the doctor of the church. Her Feast day is the 15th of October.

First Female Doctor of the Church

Mar 1, 1970

Pope Paul VI named Teresa the first female doctor of the church. She given this title because of her teachings and writings on prayer.