St. Teresa Of Avila Research Paper

An initially reluctant nun who became one of the few female “doctors of the Church,” St. Teresa of Avila lived in Spain from 1515-1582. Fanciful and charismatic, Teresa first ended up in the convent at age 16 as a result of her strict father’s attempt to reign in her imagination and flirtations. This convent, however, had become the refuge of many women with no place else to go, and accordingly was not the ideal environment for spiritual development. Only after years of serious illness during which Teresa hardly prayed at all did Teresa, at the recommendation of a priest, return in earnest to prayer. Her persistence through the challenges of developing her practice of mental prayer is recorded in her writings that have become founts of spiritual wisdom that draw countless others into relationship with God.
Placing complete trust in God enables one to surpass natural human capacities and Saint

Teresa found great peace in embracing her vocation, and this she attributed to God. Also, while most would consider relationships with family good and holy, Teresa recognized that they could impede her progress towards relationship with God, and when that was the case they needed to be left behind. In her later years, growing recognition of the worldly concerns that distracted Teresa and other nuns from their true purpose of cultivating intimacy with God inspired Teresa to reform her Carmelite order. This, however, angered priests, nuns, and town officials who saw this reform as an act of defiance and betrayal. Rather than lose hope in the face of this resistance, “Teresa looked on these difficulties as good publicity” (St. Teresa). Interest in joining her convent grew rapidly and ultimately she was named a “doctor of the Church” due to her insights into prayer. St. Teresa’s journey deeper into joyful obedience to God shows how committing oneself to prayer makes the seemingly impossible possible and thereby attracts others to the path of