St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church

You can go to this page for some background on St. Teresa of Avila, a woman who lived, prayed and worked in the 16th Century-- living from the Protestant Reformation through the Council of Trent -- talk about interesting times!

She lived in a Carmelite monastery (convent), experiencing the gift of profound and mystical prayer, composing spiritual writings and leading the reform of the Carmelite order, all while maintaining a sense of humor.

And a prayer/poem from a bookmark discovered after her death:

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things pass away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who has God
Finds he lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

Doctor, doctor!

October 15 is the feast day of St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582). She was a Carmelite nun, reformer and founder of convents and monasteries, author of classic spiritual works and in 1970, was the first woman granted the title of "Doctor of the Church".

     A quote attributed to St. Teresa...

           "From silly devotions

            and from sour-faced saints,

            good Lord, deliver us."