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quotes from St. Teresa was a result of this treat- The Carmelite Order that St. Teresa founded was
ment which she felt was so unfair. Jesus told her enclosed. The worries and distractions of the world
that this was how he treats his friends. She replied, were shut out and the Sisters could have quiet time
“No wonder you have so few friends.” with God.

St. Teresa in Action Doctor of the Church
Her experience at the convent she had been a part A Doctor of the Church is one who has advanced
of for years made her determined to found an order the knowledge of God through his or her writings
that was more contemplative – one of poverty and on theology, spirituality, mysticism, or through
prayer. This caused even more problems for her. their defense of the faith in the face of heresy and
She was faced with many legal woes; but instead schism. St. Teresa of Avila was given this title by
of letting them deter her, she went on to build her Pope Paul VI in 1970. She was one of the first
first convent – St. Joseph’s, which was completed women honored with this title.
in A.D. 1562. This community became the first
Order of the Discalced Carmelites. The word St. Teresa’s writings arose partly from having to
“discalced” means barefoot and it refers to the fact defend herself against the criticism that her ideas
that those in the order wear sandals. of reform were an attack on the Church; but her
writings encompassed prayer, spirituality, and
In the divided world of the Reformation, a time much more. Interior Castle is one of her most
when the Catholic Church was facing religious and masterful works. St. Teresa of Avila died on Octo-
political challenges, St. Teresa felt that the con- ber 4, 1582. SJM
templative life of a community of women would
be a factor in bringing the Church together again. St. Teresa of Avila, pray for us!

St. John of the Cross

St. Teresa’s Friend

Although there was quite an age difference
between them, St. Teresa recruited St. John of
the Cross to help form an Order of Discalced
Carmelites for men. St. John and St. Teresa were
of like mind. Their disillusionment with the lack
of piety in their Orders was a shared concern.
This resulted in St. John of the Cross helping to
form the male counterpart of the Discalced
Carmelites.

Just like St. Teresa, St. John experienced
difficulties with his previous Order of Carmelites
who captured and imprisoned him for just short
of two years. During this time St. John wrote
beautiful spiritual poems. His analysis of these
poems are considered classics. One of the most
well-known classics is his Dark Night of the
Soul. SJM

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