Avila convento de sta theresa church window01

Saint Teresa of Avila

By as032072
  • Mar 28, 1515

    Birth

    Birth
    Saint Teresa was born in Avila, Spain. Her father was a merchant and she had nine siblings.
  • Apr 4, 1515

    Baptism

    Baptism
    Teresa was baptised in the church of Saint John.
  • Jan 1, 1522

    Seven years old

    Seven years old
    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.
  • Jan 1, 1527

    Twelve years old

    Twelve years old
    Teresa started getting interested in fashion and romance. She enjoyed reading romance books.
  • Jan 1, 1529

    Fourteen years old

    Teresa's mother died.
  • Jan 1, 1531

    Sixteen years old

    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.
  • Nov 2, 1535

    Twenty years old

    Twenty years old
    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.
  • Jan 1, 1538

    Twenty-three years old

    Twenty-three years old
    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.
  • Aug 15, 1539

    Twenty-four years old

    Still ill Saint Teresa returned to Avila. She fell into a coma and revived after four days although this left her partially paralysed.
  • Jan 1, 1540

    Twenty-five years old

    Twenty-five years old
    Teresa returned to the convent and she remained ill for another 3 years.
  • Jan 1, 1543

    Twenty-eight years old

    Saint Teresa's father passed away.
  • Jan 1, 1554

    Thirty-nine years old

    Thirty-nine years old
    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.
  • Jan 1, 1555

    Thirty-nine years old

    Thirty-nine years old
    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".
  • Jun 1, 1562

    Forty-six years old

    Forty-six years old
    Saint Teresa of Avila began writing her autobiography named ‘Life’.
  • Aug 24, 1562

    Forty-six years old

    Forty-six years old
    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.
  • Jan 1, 1567

    Fifty-one years old

    Fifty-one years old
    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.
  • Jan 1, 1571

    Fifty-five years old

    Fifty-five years old
    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.
  • Jan 1, 1577

    Sixty-one years old

    Sixty-one years old
    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.
  • Jan 1, 1578

    Sixty-two years old

    Sixty-two years old
    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.
  • Oct 4, 1582

    Sixty-seven years old

    Sixty-seven years old
    Saint Teresa dies at Alba de Tormes, Spain, from natural causes.

  • Event

    Event
    Teresa is declared Blessed.

  • Event

    Event
    The Spanish government declares Teresa as patroness of Spain.

  • Canonisation

    Canonisation
    Teresa was canonised by Pope Gregory XV.

  • Event

    Event
    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.