OCTOBER 15 | PEOPLE OF PRAYER

A.D. 1515–1582

Teresa of Ávila lived in the sixteenth century in a cloistered monastery, yet her influence throughout the world is so far reaching that it is impossible to measure. She was a Carmelite nun, an author, a reformer, and a mystic.

Teresa of Ávila was one of the greatest saints ever to live, and yet she was incredibly practical. It is an easy mistake to think of mystics as otherworldly or as living with their heads in the clouds—and while Teresa had astounding mystical experiences, she remained very aware of this life and this world and the struggles that ordinary people face.

She wrote about themes such as comfort and worry, how these things affect us, and how to deal with them. When she died, an old handmade bookmark was found in her prayer book, which she used to take everywhere with her. On the bookmark Teresa had written, "Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing make you afraid. All things are passing. God alone never changes. Patience gains all things. If you have God, you will want for nothing. God alone suffices."

Someone who doesn't struggle with worry wouldn't write something like that. Someone who hadn't wrestled with fear wouldn't keep those words so intimately close at all times. Teresa of Ávila's astounding spiritual awareness combined with her attention to the practical things of life has impacted people for centuries since her death. But her greatest contribution at all—and the reason she became a Doctor of the Church—is because of her teachings on prayer.

Many Catholics know how to say the Our Father and Hail Mary, but so many of us go through life without really knowing how to speak to God as a friend.

So, how do you pray this way, according to Teresa of Avila? Here are just a few tips: 

First, speak to God as if He were sitting across from you, as if He were really in the room with you, right now (because He is!). Even with this amazing realization, you might sometimes get distracted in your prayer. Try bringing an amazing Catholic book with you, and reading a few paragraphs if you feel uninspired or bored. If you realize you’ve been distracted, that’s okay. It’s a normal and inevitable part of prayer. Just return right back to your conversation with God and don’t worry!

If you do nothing else with your life, develop an amazing friendship with God. Become a man or woman of prayer. This friendship will change the way you see yourself and the world. It will rearrange your priorities, as love always does. It will give you clarity and a joy that nobody can take from you.

Feast Day: October 15

Patron Saint of: Sick People, People In Religious Orders, Chess, People Ridiculed For Their Piety, and Lacemakers

Also Known As: Saint Teresa of Jesus

Symbols: A Dove

Canonized: March 12, 1622

Canonized By: Pope Gregory XV