St Teresa of Avila [1515 - 1582] foundress of the Discalced Carmelites, and Doctor of the Church. Teresa was born in Spain of a noble Castillian family.
Teresa loved reading the lives of the saints. After the death of her mother Teresa decided to become a nun. At that time the discipline in the convent was very lax. After a series of visions St Teresa founded in 1561 a reformed convent involving strict enclosure, perpetual silence, and poverty in Avila.
From 1568 onwards Teresa collaborated with St John of the Cross in the establishment of reformed friars. Her book on comtemplative prayer the "Interior Castle" is excellent.
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