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St Teresa of Avilia

By kamilelazzi
  • Feb 28, 1515

    St Teresa was born in Gotarrendura, in the province of Ávila, Spain.

    St Teresa was born in Gotarrendura, in the province of Ávila, Spain.
    St Teresa was born in Gotarrendura, in the province of Ávila, Spain.
  • Period: Mar 28, 1515 to Oct 4, 1582

    Main events in the life of St Teresa of Avila.

    Key events in her life.
  • Feb 27, 1522

    She was the third and most "beloved" of ten children. At the age of 7, she left home with her brother Rodrigo to go to Africa with the intention of going to Moorish Territory to be beheaded for Christ and to achieve martydom.

    Her father, Alonso Sánchez de Cepeda and her mother Beatriz were eager to raise their daughter as a Christian. Her mother died at the age of 34 when Teresa was only 14 years old.
  • Nov 2, 1535

    She entered the Carmelite Monastey of the incarnation in Avila where she took vows for two years. She later became known as Teresa of Jesus.

    She entered the Carmelite Monastey of the incarnation in Avila where she took vows for two years. She later became known as Teresa of Jesus.
    She studied at the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation in Avila.
  • Oct 23, 1565

    Teresa asked to establish new convents and monasteries and renew old ones. She accomplished this despite her preference for the contemplative life rather than her traveling throughout Spain.

    She was known as a controversial saint during the church reform beacuse of Teresa’s battles with corrupt church officials, the competition between the Calced and Discalced Carmelites and troubling negotiations with church authorities to establish new and reformed convents. Her aims of founding a new order recommitting to values and poverty were met with opposition.
  • Mar 27, 1582

    She successfully became a nun, with the support of some priests, she was able to set up her new order of 'recommitting to values of poverty'.

    She successfully became a nun, with the support of some priests, she was able to set up her new order of 'recommitting to values of poverty'.
    She wrote ta few books.
    In 1566 she wrote Camino de perfeccion (Way of Perfection) to tell the nuns how to reach their goal. In 1580, she wrote what is considered her greatest work; the Castillo interior/ Las moradas (Interior castle/ The mansions) this involved describing the various stages of spiritual evolution leading to full prayer. She wrote Las Fundaciones (Foundations) from 1573 to 1582, so they would remember the early history of their order.
  • Oct 4, 1582

    She died of an illness callled Malaria and was paralyzed for three days before dying.

    She died at Alba de Tormes, Spain.

  • She was canonized by Pope Gregory XV in Rome.

    She was canonized by Pope Gregory XV in Rome.
    In 1970, she was named Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI.