Time-line of Teresa's life

1515



1528?

1531


1532

1535


1538-39



1554?


1559


1562




1565?

1565/56

1567


1568




1569


1570

1571



1574


1575


1576


1577

1580


1581

1582

Born Teresa de Ahumada, daughter of Alonso de Cepada and his second wife Beatriz de Ahumada.

Teresa's mother died.

Goes as a boarder to Augustinian convent in Avila.

Leaves due to ill health.

Enters Carmelite convent of the Incarnation in Avila.

Leaves convent for a year through illness and nearly dies. Reads Francisco de Osuna's Third Spiritual Alphabet.

'Conversion' before statue of Ecce Homo ('Behold the Man').

Valdez Index prohibits books in the vernacular.

Permission to found the first convent of the Discalced Reform, St. Joseph's in Avila.

Finishes the first redaction of her Life.

Finishes the second text of her Life.

Finishes writing The Way of Perfection.

Foundation of monastery at Medina del Campo.

Foundation of monasteries in Malagon and Valladolid, and first priory for friars in Duruelo, where John of the Cross enters the Reform.

Foundation of monasteries in Toledo and Pastrama (1 for nuns, 1 for friars).

Foundation of monastery in Salamanca.

Foundation of monastery in Alba de Tormes. Teresa elected as Prioress of the Incarnation, Avila for 3 years.

Foundation of monastery in Segovia. Life investigated.

Foundation of monastery at Beas and Seville.

Interview by representatives of the Inquisition.

Writes The Interior Castle.

Foundation of monasteries at Villanueva de la Jara and Palencia.

Foundation of monastery in Soria.

Foundation of monastery in Burgos.

Dies in Alba de Tormes.