Feast Day of St Teresa of Avila - 15 October

Feast Day of St Teresa of Avila - 15 October

St. Teresa of Avila was born in Avila, Spain in 1515 AD and died in 1582 AD. The Catholic Church celebrates her feast day on October 15 every year. Of wealthy family, St Teresa would become famous for her establishment of the Discalced Carmelites, an order devoted to quiet prayer, poverty and austerity. She is known for her practice of mental prayer and the visions and inner voices she experienced. Teresa's books on spirituality are considered to be classics within the Catholic Church.

One of the most famous miracles attributed to her is similar to the miracle of Jesus and Lazarus. The wall of a building fell on Teresa’s young nephew and he was crushed. Apparently dead, he was brought to Teresa. She held her little nephew in her arm and prayed deeply. Minutes later, the boy came back to life. This miracle, in fact, was presented at Teresa’s canonisation in 1622.

Many other miracles occurred in St. Teresa’s life, but it can be argued that the greatest miracle was her own conversion. In her autobiography, she once said “The possession of virtuous parents who lived in the fear of God, together with those favors which I received from his Divine Majesty, might have made me good, if I had not been so very wicked.”

This self-described “wicked” girl would go on to become one of the greatest saints in Church history. She was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1970 for her writings and teaching on prayer.

St. Teresa is the patron saint of Headache sufferers. Her symbol is a heart, an arrow, and a book.

Prayer of St Teresa of Avila

Majestic sovereign, timeless wisdom, your kindness melts my hard, cold soul. Handsome lover, selfless giver, your beauty fills my dull, sad eyes. I am yours, you made me. I am yours, you called me. I am yours, you saved me. I am yours, you loved me. I will never leave your presence. Give me death, give me life. Give me sickness, give me health. Give me honour, give me shame. Give me weakness, give me strength. I will have whatever you give. Amen