St Teresa's Life
Early Life:
St Teresa was born on March 28, 1515 in Avila, Spain and was the daughter of a Toledo merchant and his second wife. Teresa’s parents were very pious and she was especially close to her mother, who provided a warm nature contrasted to the strictness of her father. Teresa’s mother died when she was 15, leaving ten children behind and Teresa was terribly distraught after her mother died, turning to the Virgin Mary for comfort. Shortly after, St Teresa was sent to an education at the Augustinian nuns however during her later teen years, Teresa lost some of her piety and religion.
Adult Life:
After reading the letters of St. Jerome, Teresa was inspired to enter a religious life and then joined a Carmelite convent which was a large community filled with activity. Teresa fell ill with malaria and was left paralyzed for three years and never fully recovered. She used her sickness as an excuse to stop her pray but would later say “Prayer is an act of love, words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love”.
St Teresa’s death and later life:
St Teresa died on October 4, 1583 at the age of 67 and she died at Alba de Tormes. After she died, her legacy still lived on and her life story continued on as she was beatified on 24th of April 1614 and canonized a saint on the 12th of March 1622. The Spanish parliament, declared St Teresa the Patroness of Spain in 1617. St Teresa’s heart, hands, right arm and foot, left eye and part of her jaw are on display in various site around the world.
Early Life:
St Teresa was born on March 28, 1515 in Avila, Spain and was the daughter of a Toledo merchant and his second wife. Teresa’s parents were very pious and she was especially close to her mother, who provided a warm nature contrasted to the strictness of her father. Teresa’s mother died when she was 15, leaving ten children behind and Teresa was terribly distraught after her mother died, turning to the Virgin Mary for comfort. Shortly after, St Teresa was sent to an education at the Augustinian nuns however during her later teen years, Teresa lost some of her piety and religion.
Adult Life:
After reading the letters of St. Jerome, Teresa was inspired to enter a religious life and then joined a Carmelite convent which was a large community filled with activity. Teresa fell ill with malaria and was left paralyzed for three years and never fully recovered. She used her sickness as an excuse to stop her pray but would later say “Prayer is an act of love, words are not needed. Even if sickness distracts from thoughts, all that is needed is the will to love”.
St Teresa’s death and later life:
St Teresa died on October 4, 1583 at the age of 67 and she died at Alba de Tormes. After she died, her legacy still lived on and her life story continued on as she was beatified on 24th of April 1614 and canonized a saint on the 12th of March 1622. The Spanish parliament, declared St Teresa the Patroness of Spain in 1617. St Teresa’s heart, hands, right arm and foot, left eye and part of her jaw are on display in various site around the world.