Theresa of Avila, Saint

(1515-1582)

   Saint Theresa, a native of Avila in the Castilian region of Spain, decided to pursue the religious life at a young age. In 1536, she entered the Carmelite convent of Avila where she began to experience visions that at first caused her great concern, but soon a spiritual adviser helped her recognize that these were mystical occurrences. In the 1560s she began a reformation campaign of the Carmelite Order by establishing new convents all over Spain. She met bitter opposition until, in 1580, Gregory XIII persuaded King Philip II of Spain to give recognition to her new Order of the Discalced Carmelites. While engaged in these efforts, St. Theresa wrote her Autobiography (1565), The Way of Perfection (1573), and Interior Castle (1577), all meant as instructional manuals and considered today to be among the most notable examples of mystic literature. Her writings inspired Gian Lorenzo Bernini to render her experiencing one of her mystical moments in the Cornaro Chapel in the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome (1645-1652). In 1622, Gregory XV canonized St. Theresa and, in 1970, she was declared a Doctor of the Church, the first woman to receive such an honor.