Saint Therasa of Avila

Teresa was born on March 28 March 1515 at Avila, Castile, Spain as Teresa Sanchez Cepeda Davilay Ahumada. She came from a Wealthy and noble Spanish family and was the daughter of Don Alonso Sanchez de Cepeda and Dona Beatriz. Theresa was extremely well educated due to her privileged background. She suffered from many illnesses throughout her life and often turned to her studies and her conviction in the Catholic faith. She felt a true vocation for the religious life although this was strongly opposed by her father. She ran away from home and joined a convent of Carmelite nuns. Her father then capitulated realising the intensity of her beliefs. During her illnesses she experienced many mystical visions. She founded a Carmelite monastery for nuns adhering to absolute poverty. Theresa was a prolific writer of mystical literature of the Roman Catholic Church. Saint Theresa died on October 4, 1582 at Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain.