Teresa of Avila
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A website of the Carmelite Forum of Britain & Ireland

About Teresa

Picture
Statue of Teresa in Alba de Tormes, Spain
Saint Teresa of Avila, also called Teresa of Jesus, was a prominent Carmelite nun in Spain, a reformer, founder, spiritual thinker and contemplative.

Born in the Spanish town of Ávila on 28th March 1515, she was baptised Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada. She entered the Carmelite Order ...

She wrote profoundly on the Christian life, especially on prayer. Her books, which are regarded as not only classic works of Christian mysticism but also as key texts of Spanish Renaissance literature, include her autobiography (The Book of Her Life), The Way of Perfection, and The Interior Castle. 

Living during the Counter Reformation, she was a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered the founder (along with St. John of the Cross) of the Discalced or Teresian Carmelites.

Teresa died on 4th March 1582. Forty years after her death, in 1622, she was canonised by Pope Gregory XV.

In 1970 Teresa was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI.

To read more about Teresa click here.

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