Saint Teresa of Avila:

Feast day : 15 October

Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Teresa of Avila, a Spanish Carmelite nun, mystic, reformer, theologian and author who lived during the period 1515-1582. She is the first female saint to be honoured with the title of 'Doctor of the Church'. Her greatest contribution was the reformation of the Carmelite Order for both men and women. She was assisted by St John of the Cross who helped her reform the men’s Carmelite Order. The reform led to the establishment of the Discalced Carmelites which was formalised through a papal decree in 1580. Her literary contributions have been followed avidly by those keen on seeking a life of perfection. She was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. On 27 September 1970, Pope Paul VI declared her ‘Doctor of the Church’.

Early life:

Saint Teresa was born on March 28, 1515 to Don Alonso Xanchez de Cepeda and Dona Beatriz Davila Ahumada in Avila, Spain. Her mother raised her to be a pious Christian and from a young age she was greatly inspired by the stories of the lives of Saints. At the age of seven she ran away from home alongwith her brother hoping to be martyred by the Moors. She believed that it was the easiest way to Heaven where her joys would last forever!! Sadly her attempt was foiled by her uncle who saw the kids and returned them safely home. From her childhood, she is known to have had a strong devotion to St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary whom she trusted with her many requests which were never denied. When she lost her mother at the age of 13 she turned to the Blessed Virgin for comfort and amidst her sorrows she meditated on the agony of Our Lord in the garden of Gethsmane. But though the love for Jesus increased in her, her idleness also gave way to temptations which she regretted later in life. At the age of 16 she became a boarder in the Augustinian Convent at Avila but continued to remain hostile to the religious life. Later through several conversations with her uncle and reading of spiritual books, she overcame the conflict within herself and chose the religious life. When her father opposed her decision, she secretly entered the Carmelite Order of the Incarnation in Avila in November 1536.

Religious life:

Life in the convent was not too strict at that time. The nuns could continue to own property, go out to visit and have visitors at the speaking room. Though the atmosphere did little to progress in spiritual growth, she endured it for the next 20 years of her life. During these years she struggled towards attaining spiritual maturity. She endured physical ailments, anguish of mind from seeking solitude and companionship at the same time and several mystical experiences that prepared her for the most important work of her life - reforming the Carmelite Order.

In the next 20 years of her life she began reforming the laxities in the Order. She made 21 foundations which included 17 convents for nuns and four monasteries for the Reformed or Discalced Friars, as they were called. St. John of the Cross, worked along-with St. Teresa in reforming the men’s Order. She made these reforms whilst facing extreme oppositions and obstacles. The first convent of the Reform was founded in 1562 in Avila and was dedicated to St. Joseph.

During these years, she attained the heights of mysticism, experienced the transverberation, had innumerable visions and was known to levitate during prayer. She was a reluctant writer who began writing under obedience to her superiors who ordered her to write. Among all her literary works, her masterpieces are ‘The Life of Teresa of Jesus’, ‘ The Way of Perfection’ and ‘ The Interior Castle or The Mansions’. The other works include the Relations, the Foundations, The Constitutions, Exclamations of a Soul to God, Thoughts on the Canticle of Canticles, Manner of Visiting Convents of Discalced Carmelite Nuns and Verses. In her Autobiography she writes about her most remarkable mystical experience - her transverberation as “I saw an angel close by me, on my left side, in bodily form. He was not large, but small of stature and most beautiful-his face burning as if he were one of the highest angels who seem to be all of fire. I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron’s point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God....”. After her death, this was confirmed when her wounded heart was meticulously examined by three physicians who noted the perforation made by the dart!

Death and Canonization:

St. Teresa founded the last of the convents of the Carmelite reform at Burgos, Spain in April 1582. She died in the Carmelite convent at Alba de Tormes on October 4, 1582. She was buried at the Convento de la Anunciación in Alba de Tormes. A sweet odor is known to have pervaded the room where her body lay. Nine months later when her body was exhumed, though moist earth was found to have fallen on it through the broken casket, the body was found to be incorrupt, giving off the same sweet odor!! Her body was contested by the convent in San Jose in Avila and the chapter of the Discalced Friars decreed that the body be exhumed and sent to Avila. This was clandestinely undertaken in 1585 and entrusted to the Sisters at St. Joseph’s at Avila. When the Duke of Alba learned of the secret removal of the body, he petitioned Rome for its return and eventually on the orders of the Pope, the holy remains were brought back to Alba de Tormes where it remains till date though some parts have been distributed as holy relics.

In 1622, forty years after her death, she was canonized by Pope Gregory XV and on 27 September 1970, Pope Paul VI declared her ‘Doctor of the Church’. Her feast is celebrated on October 15th.