St Teresa of Avila, Virgin & Doctor – 15 Oct
Born to the Spanish nobility, the daughter of Don Alonso Sanchez de Cepeda and Doña Beatriz. She grew up reading the lives of the saints, and playing at “hermit” in the garden. Crippled by disease in her youth, which led to her being well educated at home, she was cured after prayer to Saint Joseph. Her mother died when Teresa was 12, and she prayed to Our Lady to be her replacement. Her father opposed her entry to religious life, so she left home without telling anyone, and entered a Carmelite house at 17. Seeing her conviction to her call, her father and family consented.
Soon after taking her vows, Teresa became gravely ill, and her condition was aggravated by the inadequate medical help she received; she never fully recovered her health. She began receiving visions, and was examined by Dominicans and Jesuits, including Saint Francis Borgia, who pronounced the visions to be holy and true.
She considered her original house too lax in its rule, so she founded a reformed convent of Saint John of Avila. Teresa founded several houses, often against fierce opposition from local authorities. Mystical writer. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on 27 September 1970 by Pope Paul VI.
St Teresa was born on 28 March 1515 at Avila, Castile, Spain and died on 4 October 1582 at Alba de Tormes of natural causes in the arms of her secretary and close friend Blessed Anne of Saint Bartholomew. Her body is incorrupt and relics preserved at Alba. Her heart shows signs of Transverberation (piercing of the heart), and is displayed too.
Readings
God, deliver me from sullen saints. – Saint Teresa of Avila
Know that even when you are in the kitchen, our Lord moves amidst the pots and pans. – Saint Teresa of Avila
Oh my Lord! How true it is that whoever works for you is paid in troubles! And what a precious price to those who love you if we understand its value. – Saint Teresa of Avila
There is no such thing as bad weather. All weather is good because it is God’s. – Saint Teresa of Avila
There is more value in a little study of humility and in a single act of it than in all the knowledge in the world. – Saint Teresa of Avila
(catholicsaints.info)