Life Timelines: Saint Teresa of Avila

Timeline of Venerable Solanus Casey

By any standard Saint Teresa of Avila was a person of many accomplishments. She was a religious reformer, the founder of many convents, the author of spiritual classics, and a master of Christian prayer. She was born into an aristocratic family of both Christian and Jewish ancestry in the fortress city of Avila, Spain. Her family’s social status gave her the advantage of privileged nobility.

When Teresa was fourteen, her mother died. As a result, Teresa’s father arranged for her education at a local convent. In 1535, Teresa decided to become a nun despite her father’s objections. Within a short time she became seriously ill and recuperated at home. It was a long recuperation period and after three years, Teresa returned to the convent. What is clear is that Teresa’s courage and wisdom overcame these early setbacks.

We see her courage and wisdom grow as Teresa expanded her interest in spiritual reading during her illness. During this period she also renewed her commitment to a life of prayer. She viewed Saint Augustine as a model and began to write about her experiences with God. In 1577, she completed “The Interior Castle”, which provides a detailed account of her spiritual pilgrimage. Teresa explained that there are many rooms in the castle. However, the work of the spiritual life is to enter the very center of the castle and thereby find God and oneself. Prayer is the means by which the soul is more open to God. Teresa sounds a warning that progress in the spiritual life comes about from being able to distinguish the voice of God from the chaos and confusion that surround us.

Teresa worked tirelessly to reform the Carmelite convents to their original austerity, always emphasizing prayer, penance, and sacrifice. Because of her extensive travels, she earned the nickname “The Roving Nun.” She established a special friendship with Saint John of the Cross, who also worked tirelessly seeking to reform Carmelite monasteries. She was canonized in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970. Her feast day is October 15. She is the patron saint of Spain. It is important to remember that Theresa was an energetic, practical, and optimistic person, eager to seek union with God. Her practical spiritual wisdom can be summed up in her own words, “Remember that you have only one soul, that you have only one death to die, that you have only one life, which is short and has to be lived by you alone, and that there is only one glory, which is eternal. If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing.” This maxim explains why Teresa represents an exceptional example of combining the contemplative and active life in an extraordinary way.

World Timeline

1515

Raphael is appointed architect-in-chief of St. Peter’s Basilica.


1577

Francis Drake embarks on voyage around the world via Cape Horn.


1582

Jesuit mission founded in China.


1622

Benedictine University of Salzburg is established.
1970: Hospital care in the U.S. costs $665 per average patient-stay.