On St. Teresa of Avila, Her Writings and Spirituality

On the life, writings and spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila, virgin and doctor

St. Teresa of Avila, 1515-1582 A.D.: together with St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa was declared a doctor of the Church in 1970 A.D.; she was noted to have developed her doctrine of prayer from her own personal story without the help of any theological education.

Biographical sketch

St. Teresa of Avila, also known as Teresa of Jesus [her Carmelite name], was born on March 28, 1515 A.D., in Avila, a city of Old Castile, Spain. She was the third of nine children of her parents Don Alonzo Sanchez de Cepeda and Doña Beatrice Davila y Ahumada. Both parents of St. Teresa were people of position in Avila.

At age seven, St. Teresa was intrigued by the lives of the saints. Together with her younger brother Roderigo, they decided to be martyrs and left home to go to Morocco - thinking that their martyrdom at the hands of the Moors will make them saints. An uncle then found them and returned them to their frightened mother. Failing to become "martyrs", St. Teresa and Roderigo again decided to be hermits. They built little cells from stones right in their own garden.

St. Teresa was 14 years old when her mother died. This triggered a change in her. She became more interested in the fashions that young women of her social class were interested in. Noticing this change in her, St. Teresa was sent by her father to a convent school.

It was after attending the school in an Augustinian convent that St. Teresa felt drawn towards religious life. She became a Carmelite nun in 1536 A.D. It was as a Carmelite nun that St. Teresa slowly understood her calling. First, the convent she entered was much into the socialization of the town. In fact, the parlor of the convent was the social centre of the town. In the beginning, St. Teresa was part of this socialization that she gave up much of her prayer and meditation. She then realized that something was amiss in all that was happening.

St. Teresa of Avila came to believe that her Carmelite order needed reforms. So, despite the resistance of many ecclesiastics, she then founded the St. Joseph Convent in Avila in 1561 A.D. Others soon followed in many parts of Spain. These convents that St. Teresa founded were for nuns who wished to live cloistered lives - committed to strict discipline and almost perpetual silence. St. Teresa of Avila and her nuns came to be known as Discalced Carmelites - a name taken from the fact that they wore sandals instead of shoes [meant to be a sign of austerity and poverty]. Soon, with St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila also founded similar monasteries for men: one at Durelo in 1568 A.D., and a second one at Pastrana in 1569 A.D.

In her reform efforts of the Carmelite Order, St. Teresa of Avila travelled all over Spain and wrote many letters and books. Her book, The Way of Perfection, was written to guide her nuns. Foundations, another of St. Teresa's works, was written also for her nuns [meant for their encouragement]. And the book Interior Castle, explains St. Teresa's teaching of the contemplative life for lay people.

Though St. Teresa of Avila was very much a contemplative, she also led a highly active life. She was popular, charming, and witty, but in a humble and very courteous manner - that even her enemies respected her. However, St. Teresa's health was poor most of her life - more so during the last two years. She died in 1582 A.D. while visiting the convent at Alva de Tormey.

In 1622 A.D., St. Teresa of Avila was canonized by Pope Gregory XV. She was then declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970 A.D. by Pope Paul VI.

St. Teresa of Avila was truly a daughter of the church and a child of her times. Her greatness lies not only in her teaching and doctrine of prayer, but on the truth that she struggled victoriously to make her mission of reforming Carmel amidst a dominantly male and Spanish ecclesiastical structure.

Teaching and spirituality

St. Teresa of Avila's teaching on prayer is contained in three major works:

• The Book of Her Life (chap 11-22)
• The Way of Perfection
• The Interior Castle

The summary of her teaching on prayer is well expressed in a well-known definition found in The Book of Her Life:

"Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing but an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us" (Life 8,5)

In "The Way of Perfection" St. Teresa says, "Remember how Saint Augustine tells us about seeking God in many places and eventually finding Him within himself ...All one need to do is go into solitude and look at Him within oneself" (The Way of Perfection 28,2)

St. Teresa of Avila agrees with St. Augustine that God dwells within the soul. She goes on to teach that this dwelling is one of beauty and splendor and likened to a castle. In her work, Interior Castle, she describes this soul to be "made entirely out of a diamond or of very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms." (The Interior Castle 1,1)

St. Teresa of Avila is very much convinced that every person has the capacity to realize this presence of God in himself. Her very life, the meaning of her reform and activities, and all her major works, are a testimony of the truth of this teaching.

Excerpts from writings

When they forbade the reading of many books in the vernacular, I felt that prohibition very much because reading some of them was an enjoyment for me, and I could no longer do so since only the Latin editions were allowed. The Lord said to me: 'Don't be sad, for I shall give you a living book'. I was unable to understand why this was said to me, since I had not yet experienced any visions. Afterwards, within only a few days, I understood very clearly, because I received so much to think about and such recollection in the presence of what I saw, and the Lord showed so much love for me by teaching me in many ways, that I had very little or almost no need for books. His Majesty had become the true book in which I saw the truths (Life 26,5).

Let it never be said of them, as it is said of some other Orders, that they do nothing but praise their beginnings. It is we who are the beginners now; but let them continually strive to be beginners too, in the sense of growing better and better all the time (Foundations, 29).

Books on Pope John Paul II

Books and Resources on John Paul II used as references for posts on this blog

• John Paul II: Go In Peace - A Gift of Enduring Love, by editor Joseph Durepos
• Crossing the Threshold of Hope, by John Paul II
• John Paul II: The Encyclicals in Everyday Language, by Joseph Donders (the 1st 12 of the Pope's 14 encyclicals)
• The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II: The Loving Heart
• The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II: Words of Inspiration
• John Paul II: A Great Pope Passes into History, Readers Digest, June 2005
• The Pontiff in Winter, by John Cornwell
• Pope John Paul II: Champion of Faith, TV Guide Special Tribute Issue, 2005
• The Pope Coming From the East, by Teresio Basco, S.D.B.
• An Intimate Portrait of Pope John Paul II, by Mark Bakersman
• John Paul II 1920-2005: Special Double Issue of Newsweek, April 11/April 18, 2005
• Special Report: The 25 Years of Pope John Paul II (VIS)

These are the sources for posts on the life and work of John Paul II from 1920-1990 A.D.

Memorial of Saints (October 16)

St. Hedwig was married to Henry, Prince of Silesia (a region of central Europe which is in parts of present-day southern Germany, the Czech Republic, and southeastern Poland). After the death of her husband in 1238 A.D., Hedwig became a Cistercian nun in the monastery of Trebnitz. Noted among her spiritual gifts were her prophecies of the death of one of her sons in battle, and also her prophecy of her own death at the monastery. St. Hedwig is the patron saint of Silesia (died ca. 1243 A.D.).

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was instrumental for the founding of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As a Visitation nun in the convent of Paray-le-Monial, she had a series of visions of Jesus as the Sacred Heart. Although many at first did not believe in the authenticity of her visions, her spiritual director, Bl. Claude La Colombiére supported and encouraged her. In 1765 A.D., Pope Clement XIII officially recognized and approved the devotion in Poland. It was in 1856 A.D. that the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was extended to the whole Church (died ca. 1690 A.D.).

St. Gerard Majella wanted to join the Capuchins but ended up as a servant in the household of the bishop of Lacedonga. After the bishop's death, he returned home and opened a tailor's shop. in 1748 A.D., he joined the Redemptorists as a lay brother. He became known for his extraordinary supernatural gifts - bilocation, prophecy, ecstasies, visions and infused knowledge. Because he was also widely known for his holiness and charity, many people wanted to visit him. St. Gerard spent the last months of his life raising funds for his community (died ca. 1755 A.D.).

St. Gall studied under Sts. Comgall and Columban and was ordained. Gall accompanied Columban to Gaul and worked with him at Annegray and Luxeuil (in present-day east-central France). Gall accompanied Columban in the latter's other journeys, but had to stay behind in 612 A.D. due to ill health. After his recovery, he became a hermit on the Steinach River and attracted numerous disciples. Eventually a monastery was built in the site of his hermitage and came to be known as St. Gall's Monastery (died ca. 635 A.D.).

Sts. Martinian and Companions and Maxima were slaves in Africa during the reign of Arian King Genseric. It was Maxima who converted Martinian and his brothers to Christianity. When the master who owned Martinian and Maxima wanted the two to get married, both fled to a monastery. The two were however brought back and then flogged by their master. After the master's death, his widow sold his slaves, and the new owner freed Maxima and sold the men to a Berber chief. Because of the Christian persecutions at the time, they were all tortured and dragged to their deaths by horses (died ca. 458 A.D.).

St. Mommolinus became a monk at Luxeuil. He was sent to St. Omer to be a missionary to the Morini in Artois (present-day west of the Franco-Belgian coal basin). Mommolinus later on became superior of a monastery at Sithiu and became bishop of Noyon in 660 A.D. At Noyon (north of Paris), Mommolinus built Saint-Quentin Monastery, with Bertram as abbot (died ca. 686 A.D.).

St. Bercharius also became a monk at Luxeuil and was ordained. He became the first abbot of the monastery at Hautvillers - founded by St. Nivard. Then he himself also founded a monastery named Montier-en-Der. He also built a convent for nuns named Puellemontier. St. Bercharius died of stab wounds after he was attacked by a monk he enforced his discipline (died ca. 696 A.D.).

St. Lull was educated at Malmesbury Monastery where he became deacon. Later on he was sent to the mission in Germany under St. Boniface. After St. Boniface's death, he succeeded to the see of Fulda. He became involved in a jurisdictional dispute with St. Sturmi, abbot of Fulda. The dispute was however resolved by King Pepin who declared the abbey of Fulda independent. St. Lull spent his last years in the monastery of Hersfeld (died ca. 786 A.D.).

St. Anastasius of Cluny became a monk at Mont St. Michel but soon left to live as a hermit on the island of Tombelaine off the coast of Normandy (former name of a region in present-day northwest France). In 1066 A.D., St. Hugh convinced him to join the monastery at Cluny. He lived at Cluny for seven years and then went on a mission to Spain. In 1080 A.D., he returned to Cluny and lived at the monastery for seven years more before he resumed his solitary life near Toulouse (died ca. 1085 A.D.).

St. Bertrand of Comminges was the son of a high military officer. He did not follow in his father's footsteps, but decided to become a canon at Toulouse. In 1075 A.D., he became bishop of Comminges, France and administered his see for the next 48 years. He did many things in his see: he reformed the diocese, put the canons under the rule of St. Augustine, and became known to have performed several miracles (died ca. 1123 A.D.).