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Saint Teresa was born in Avila, Spain. Her father was a merchant and she had nine siblings.
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Teresa was baptised in the church of Saint John.
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St Teresa and her brother ran away to become martyrs because they were convinced that it was the easiest way to get to heaven. Her uncle caught her and brought her and her brother back home.
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Teresa started getting interested in fashion and romance. She enjoyed reading romance books.
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Teresa's mother died.
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Teresa was sent to a convent to be educated by Augustinian nuns because her father thought that she was uncontrollable. This convent was filled with visitor’s who came daily, gossiped and overall was a place of social gathering.
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Teresa and her brother ran away to pursue their religious vocations. She entered the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation at Avila and became active with Saint John of the Cross.
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Teresa got ill and stayed at her uncle’s house. There she was given a guide to mental prayer. She began practicing mental prayer and opened herself to God.
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Still ill Saint Teresa returned to Avila. She fell into a coma and revived after four days although this left her partially paralysed.
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Teresa returned to the convent and she remained ill for another 3 years.
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Saint Teresa's father passed away.
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Teresa had her conversion when she saw a vision a Jesus wounded and realised her lack of gratitude for Jesus’ sufferings. She felt moved by Christs suffering for her and overwhelmed.
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She began having visions and hearing inner voices but many people thought her favours were from the devil, while others believed they were a gift from God. Jesus once told her: "I would create the whole universe again, just to enjoy your company".
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Saint Teresa of Avila began writing her autobiography named ‘Life’.
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Teresa was given permission to form a convent by St Peter of Alacantara. She named it St Joseph, in Avila. This convent focused on poverty and prayer and had a limited number of nuns. Much of the practices in this convent were the opposite of the practices of the convent St Teresa went to when she was sixteen years old.
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Teresa’s work was approved by a Carmelite general and in the next years of her life she travelled throughout Spain establishing twelve new convents. She faced a lot of opposes during this time. She also established two houses for men who wanted the reformed lifestyle and became known as the Contemplative Carmelites, being led by St John of the Cross.
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St Teresa was asked to go back to the Convent of Incarnation in Avila. There she improved the spiritual condition of the convent and community.
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Saint Teresa wrote "Interior Castle". This book was about building your relationship with God, it acted as a spiritual guide for anyone who read it.
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Pope recognises the separation between the two convents, Calced and Discalced Carmelites. Before this, there was much controversy as the Calced Carmelites tried to prevent St Teresa’s election as head of the nuns. She was forced out and her nuns were excommunicated.
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Saint Teresa dies at Alba de Tormes, Spain, from natural causes.
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Teresa is declared Blessed.
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The Spanish government declares Teresa as patroness of Spain.
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Teresa was canonised by Pope Gregory XV.
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Saint Teresa was named the first female Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI. She was given this title because of her writing and teaching on prayer. Today, Saint Teresa of Avila is recognised with her symbols; a heart, an arrow and a book.
