Birth: 1515-03-28
, Ávila
Death: 1582-10-15
, Mosteiro da Anunciação de Nossa Senhora das Carmelitas Descalças de Alba de Tormes
Teresa of Ávila, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, was a Spanish Carmelite nun, mystic, and writer, considered one of the most important figures of the Counter-Reformation. She dedicated her life to the reform of the Carmelite Order, founding numerous convents throughout Spain. Her spiritual works, such as "The Book of Life" and "The Interior Castle," are landmarks of mystical literature, describing her experiences of prayer and union with God with remarkable clarity and depth.
Her writing is characterized by authenticity, direct language, and profound religious experience. Teresa of Ávila is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church and is a Doctor of the Church, a title awarded to theologians and mystics whose writings are considered of great importance to Christian doctrine and spirituality.
