Page 5 - St. Joseph Messenger October 2020

St. Teresa of Avila - Doctor of the Church

From the darkness of youth to the light of the Church

T
eresa Ali Fatim Corella Sanchez de Capeda
y Ahumada (known to us as St. Teresa of
Avila) was born in A.D. 1515 to a father
who was very rigid in the rearing of his children,
and a mother who had a more fanciful nature.
When she was growing up she felt that she would
never be able to please both her parents, and that
anything she did would garner the disapproval of
at least one of them, if not both.

Teresa felt that her life was in constant turmoil.
She was what we can call a rebel. This status did
not serve her well in her youth, but it would be a
great asset when she was a part of Church reform.
Her rebellious nature and her preoccupation with
having fun propelled her father to send her to a
convent.
St Teresa of Ávila, 1644
As you might imagine, Teresa did not like this new Jusepe de Ribera
Oil on canvas
life. She missed her friends, her parties, and all Private collection
that had been her life outside the convent. She was
not oblivious to this weakness in her life, and, even recovery from this serious disease nor three
consequently, she considered herself a sinner, who years of paralysis could strengthen Teresa’s prayer
gave in to temptations too often. This was one of life. For years she avoided serious prayer because
the reasons why she chose the convent over she thought that she was not good enough for God
marriage. to listen.

Early Convent Life It was only at the age of 41 that a priest convinced
Convents, at the time Teresa entered, were some- Teresa to begin a new prayer life. Although it was
times just places for girls who had no other options difficult for someone who had avoided prayer for
in their lives. This did not make for the sense of so long to resume prayer, she persevered and so
spirituality that Teresa needed. She fell into the God rewarded her with spiritual gifts she could
social aspects of having visitors with whom she never have imagined. She became a mystic,
traded gossip. She was not taking a path that experiencing raptures, and even levitation of her
would bring her closer to God; she was stuck in body during prayer.
the material world.
As you might imagine, others questioned whether
Soon, Teresa fell seriously ill. Everyone thought these experiences really came from God. She was
she would die; but this was not to be. Teresa interviewed and examined, but no one could
recovered although she continued to suffer the af- prove that these mystical events were not coming
tereffects of her sickness throughout her life. Not directly to her from God. One of the most famous

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