Saint Teresa of Avila

Date of Birth: March 28, 1515

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: October 4, 1582

Biography

Saint Teresa of Ávila, also known as Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, and author during the Counter-Reformation. Born in 1515 in Gotarrendura, Ávila, Spain, Teresa entered the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation in Ávila in 1535. Despite her initial struggles with illness and spiritual dryness, she experienced profound mystical visions and underwent a significant spiritual transformation. Teresa is best known for her reform of the Carmelite Order, founding the Discalced Carmelites—a branch characterized by a return to a more austere and contemplative lifestyle. Her efforts to reform the order often met with resistance, but her determination and spiritual depth eventually garnered support. She authored several influential books, including “The Interior Castle” and “The Way of Perfection,” which remain spiritual classics to this day. Teresa was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV and was later declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970 by Pope Paul VI, one of the few women to have received this title.

5 Interesting Facts about Saint Teresa of Avila

1. Saint Teresa of Ávila was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church.

2. Her autobiography, “The Life of Teresa of Jesus,” provides a vivid account of her mystical experiences and daily life.

3. She founded 17 convents and monasteries during her lifetime.

4. Teresa’s feast day is celebrated on October 15th.

5. Her mystical experiences included visions, ecstasies, and even levitation.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Saint Teresa of Avila

1. “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, though all things pass, God does not change.”

2. “It is love alone that gives worth to all things.”

3. “To reach something good, it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.”

4. “Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.”

5. “The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a religious figure who took a vow of poverty, Saint Teresa of Ávila did not accumulate personal wealth. Therefore, the concept of net worth does not apply to her.