Hello, welcome, and thank you for joining us on this journey with St. Teresa of Ávila!

Daily Meditation

Teresa was born on March 15, 1515 in Gotarrendura (Province of Ávila), Spain. Her parents descended from a rich family of noblemen of Ávila, in Castile.

As a young girl, Teresa was strong-willed and and knew what she wanted: she was particularly determined to meet God! At the age of 7, she even decided to run away with her brother and die as a martyr among the Moor.

She was also met with some hardships in her youth:  when the girl was 13, her mother died. After that, she was sent in Ávila to be raised in a convent school run by Augustinian nuns. 

Teresa did a lot of soul-searching, and tried to find meaning in her life: it made sense for her to enter into religious life, but she still experienced the torments of romance in her teenage years.

She ran away from home a second time when her father would not allow her to answer her call to religious life.

Teresa finally entered the local Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation at the age of 20, where she took the name "Teresa de Jesus". However, her first few years in the convent were not smooth sailing: Teresa was born and raised in a 'worldly' environment, which could have affected her relationship with God at first. She also experienced tribulations that would test her faith. 

In 1537, she fell severely ill and temporarily quit the Carmel to live with her family. After recovering in 1539, she returned to the Convent.

Although she was brought up in a pious environment, St. Teresa had not always been fervently devoted to the Lord. Like every one of us, she felt to doubt, moments of weakness and temptations before she understood God's plan for her. 

Let Us Pray with St. Teresa of Ávila: 

"If, Lord, Thy love for me is strong 

As this which binds me unto thee,

What holds me from thee Lord so long,

What holds thee Lord so long from me?

O soul, what then desirest thou?

Lord I would see thee, who thus choose thee.

What fears can yet assail thee now?

All that I fear is but lose thee.

Love's whole possession I entreat,

Lor make my soul thine own abode,

And I will build a nest so sweet

It may not be too poor for God.

A sould in God hidden from sin,

What more desires for thee remain,

Save but to love again,

And all on flame with love within,

Love on, and turn to love again

Amen."

St. Teresa of Ávila (translation by Arthur Symons)