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Saint Teresa’s father was named Don Alfonso Sanchez de Cepeda. He was married twice and widowed twice. His first wife was named Dona Catalina del Peso y Hefiao, they got married in 1505. She had three children, one girl and two boys.
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Sadly Dona Catalina del Peso y Hefiao died in 1507 leaving her three children behind.
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Don’s second wife was named Dona Beatriz Davila y Ahumada, they got married in 1509. She had nine children, seven boys and two girls. Teresa was the elder of the two daughters and the third child of the second marriage. All together Teresa had two sisters and nine brothers from both marriages. Her parents were both devout Catholics. As a young child Teresa showed signs of a deeply religious nature. She would often retreat into silence for prayer and would enjoy giving food and money to the poor.
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Saint Teresa was born on the 28th of March in 1515 in a place called Avila, Old Castile in Spain which is located south of Europe. Her full name is Teresa Sanchez Cepeda Davila y Ahumada and is also known as Saint Teresa of Jesus or the roving nun.Saint Teresa’s symbol is a heart, an arrow and a book.
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Saint Teresa was baptised in the Church of St. John the Baptist, April 4th 1515 on Wednesday in Holy Week. On that day Mass was said for the first time in the Monastery of the Incarnation of the Order of Carmel. When she grew up she spent so many years of her life as one of the religious of that house.Her Godfathers name was ‘Vela Nunez’ and her Godmothers name was ‘Dona Maria Del Aguila’.
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When St Teresa was about 7 years old, she wished to be a nun but not so much as she wished to be a hermit or a martyr. She and her elder brother Rodrigo had the opportunity to read about the lives of saints who were martyrs of the church. This inspired them both to become martyrs of the church by running off to the land of Moors where they would be beheaded because they were Christians.
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The next day, Theresa and Rodrigo both snuck out however had only got as far as the gates of the city when they were met by one of their uncles, who took them home, to the great relief of their mother. The children were both disappointed in their hopes of martyrdom. They decided on being hermits in their dad’s garden however their inexperience defeated them. The stones fell down from the walls they raised, and they didn’t know how to make them firm.
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Growing up, Theresa shared a very close bond with her mother however her dad carried his strictness to extremes. Teresa's mother loved romance novels but because her husband objected to these imaginary books, she hid the books from him. This put Teresa in the middle especially since she liked the romances too. Her father told her never to lie but her mother told her not to tell her father. She was always afraid that no matter what she did she was going to do everything wrong.
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Unfortunately when Saint Teresa was around 12 to 13 years old her mother passed away. She felt distraught as this affected her very much. She instinctively turned to the Virgin Mary for comfort and support.
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Saint Teresa’s eldest sister married and moved in with her husband, which required leaving the country. She was like a mother to Teresa who always watched over her.
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When Teresa was about 16 years old she began losing her religious passion. She had a natural charm and it was easy for her to make friends. She began enjoying the company of others, made use of perfumes, dressed up more and payed more attention to her hair. There were also some cousins who constantly visited the house however her father did not enjoy their presence.
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Theresa’s father began to observe her behaviour and decided to send her to the monastery of the Augustinian nuns where she was to be educated and learn about God. She was very upset as she felt she was being punished. She suffered for about a week however enjoyed the privacy in the convent. She began going confession and was always honest during her sessions. She remained in the monastery a year and a half and gained a learning of the religious life.
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Teresa had a serious illness and was taken home. As she was recovering she stopped on the way at the house of Don Pedro her Uncle (brother’s dad). He was a widower, gave up all his possessions, devoted his life to God and became a Friar. She read to him a lot of books even though she did not enjoy them to sacrifice her own pleasure for others. The conversations with her uncle influenced her to give herself to God although she did not wish to become a nun.
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She struggled for about 3 months to get her head around the thought of becoming a nun. She started reading good books which helped her very much, especially the letters of St. Jerome. At last she told her father of the decision to be a nun. Although her father was a good man he was firm and refused. He claimed she might do as she pleased after his death and stood by his response. Theresa made up her mind and wanted to become a nun at whatever it cost.
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While preparing herself to obey the call of God, Teresa persuaded one of her brothers to become a friar. Early one morning they secretly left their father's house. Her brother went to the Dominican house in Avila while she went to the Monastery of the Incarnation known as the Carmelite convent. Though she felt like she disobeyed her father she focused more on her love for God. The nuns sent word to her father, he hurried to the monastery, but he returned home without his child.
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Religious dowry is signed by Teresa at the Carmelite convent
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Teresa wears a Carmelite habit (a settled or regular tendency or practice). In the Camelite monstary she starts to learn and practice mental prayer.
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Teresa Professes her vows as a Carmelite nun.
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Theresa experienced a severe illness named malaria. The physicians of Avila had no medicine for it therefore her father took her out of the monastery and headed towards “Becedas”, to a healer who was known for treating infirmities. The rough treatment made her worse, and the three months of her stay there brought her almost to death's door. She refused all food and drinks and her bodily weaknesses were extreme, and with it all she was overwhelmed in great sadness.
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Teresa was still very sick and could not bear to be touched therefore they had to move her around in a sheet. Although she was in pain and paralysed for three years Teresa returned to the monastery and stayed in the infirmary. She confessed, read a lot, but very often did not pray, on account of the bitter suffering which came upon her because she had offended God. She was also kept from prayer because she did not see much improvement in herself, though she made good resolutions.
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Theresa was brought home to Avila in a state worse than which she had left it. In August, when the feast of Our Lady was at hand, Teresa asked to go to confession. Her father thought that she was afraid she was going to die and would not listen. That night her sickness brought her great pains and she remained in a coma for about four days. They dug her grave in the monastery as they believed she was dead. She then recovered and insisted on going to confession at once.
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Teresa heals regaining full use of her limbs. Teresa had a great devotion to St. Joseph. The physicians had failed her, and so she went to those of heaven. She had Masses said and prayers made for her and St. Joseph healed her.
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During these years Theresa began to let go more as it was a time of spiritual struggle. She described this time as a time of “wasting”. She continued to use the excuse of her recovery as the reason why she was separating from God. Teresa had now given up mental prayer, though in the beginning of her illness she had helped others to pray, and among them was her own father, whom she brought to adopt the practice of mental prayer.
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Teresa’s father fell ill therefore she left the monastery to nurse him in his sickness. Unfortunately he passed away on the 24th of December 1543.She felt all the comfort and good of her life had gone for she was his most cherished child.
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During Lent Theresa experiences a 'radical' conversion before a statue of the suffering Christ.As she was coming upon a statue of the wounded Christ, Teresa was suddenly and intensely moved by what Christ had suffered for her and she was overwhelmed by her own lack of gratitude for his sufferings. In tears, she begged the Lord to strengthen her, that she may not sin any more and she resolved not to leave until the prayer was granted. From then on, Teresa felt that she began to imrove.
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Theresa receives the grace of spiritual betrothal.
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Theresa receives the grace of transverberation (spiritual
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Teresa begins to write the book based on her life which is now named “The life of Saint Teresa”. She also begins to discuss with her friends and colleagues her vision for reforming the monastic life. The monastic life includes monks, nuns, or others living under religious vows.
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The Pope Pius IV is persuaded and has approved for Theresa to found San Jose De Avila (St. Joseph).
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During this period of time from 1562 to 1566 Teresa wrote three books. These were “the constitutions”, “The way of perfection” and “Meditations on the song of songs”.
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Theresa continued to found more and more convents. After receiving permission she then founds one in Medina del Campo.
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Theresa founds convent in Malagon.
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Theresa founds convent in Valladolid.
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Reformed monastery for friars in Duruelo is founded.
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Theresa founds convent in Toledo.
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Theresa founds convent in Pastrana.
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Theresa founds reformed monastery in Pastrana.
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Theresa founds convent in Salamanca
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Theresa founds reformed monastery in Alba de Tornmes
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Teresa renounces the Calced rule which means members of the religious orders must wear shoes. She also took over as prioress (a woman who is head of a house of certain orders of nuns) of the Encarnacion in Avila and put in charge of the Salamanca convent. Teresa also invited Juan de la Cruz to become chaplain at Encarnacion in Avila.
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Teresa receives the grace of spiritual marriage
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Teresa begins writing the book "Foundations".
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Along with Juan de la Cruz, Teresa founds the Segovia
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In 1575 Teresa founds the convent in Beas in February. She meets a girl named Jeronimo Gracian who becomes her confidant and best friend.
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Jeronimo Gracian sends Teresa to found the monastery in Seville in May. In December Teresa is denounced. A Princess ordered Teresa to found a convent and then showed up at the door with luggage and maids. When Teresa refused to order her nuns to wait on the princess on their knees, the girl denounced Teresa to the Inquisition. Inquisition is a period of extended and intensive questioning or investigation.
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Persecution of Teresa's reform movement continued. Teresa continues writing her book “Foundation” and then begins to write another magnificent book of hers “The Interior Castle”.
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Teresa founds convents in Villanueva de la Jara and Palencia. She receives an official paper brief which declared the discalced Reform 'legal'. Teresa also begins to fall ill will influenza and almost dies.
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New constitutions begin to form. Jeronimo Gracian becomes the first Provincial. She founds a convent in Soria and another in Burgos. Also Juan de la Cruz makes the foundations in Granada.
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Saint Theresa arrives at Alba de Tormes.
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Theresa was getting very ill therefore she announces she is about to die.
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Theresa receives the last sacrament of Extreme Unction and goes to confession for the last time on October 3rd 1582.
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Teresa died of natural causes in the arms of Ana de San Bartholome on October 4th 1582 at the age of 67.
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Theresa was beatified on the 24th of April in 1614 by Pope Paul V.
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The spanish parliment proclaimed Theresa as the Patroness of Spain.Saint Teresa is also the patron saint of Headache sufferers, lace workers and Spanish Catholic Writers. Her feast day is celebrated on the 15th of October every year.
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St Teresa was canonized on the 12th of March 1622 by Pope Gregory.
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It never occurred to anyone to declare any women Saint a Doctor, until on September 27 1970. Pope Paul VI added both Saint Teresa of Avila along with Catherine of Siena to the roster of Doctors of the Church.
