Teresa was born in 1515, in a small city of Avila. As a young girl she often struggled between her love for God, and her need for friends. As a teenager, she was more interested in boys. However at the age of 16, Teresa's father sent her to a convent, which she resented at first. Teresa felt herself to be sinful, and that finding a closeness to God in the convent she was much better off.
Finding it still hard to focus of God, while praying her mind wondered ,and she kept trying God rewarded her with visions and a sense of rapture.
As this gift started to grow, she realized she could help other nun overcome the same issues.
She founded a new order, the Discalced Carmelites, that focused on going back to the simple life and mental prayer, no idle chatter and personal interests to interfere.
"Discalced - without shoes, a reference to the Order's tenets of proverty and simplicity"
Not just prayer, she taught nuns to ask God for the ability to actually do good was more important then simply sasying prayers that didn't lead to action.
She is one of only two women named a Doctor of the Church for her teachings, and writings.
|
