Teresa of Avila is one of the most famous Carmelite saints. She is known for her great dedication and courage which she availed of in her reform of the Carmelite Order which she undertook with St John of the Cross.
Teresa was a mystic which means that she achieved a high degree of intimacy with God through her personal prayer - in fact, she would often become so absorbed by prayer that she would levitate (physically float in the air).
A little known fact about Teresa is that she received her early education from the enclosed Augustinian nuns in Avila. It seems that she considered joining these nuns but considered their way of life to be too strict. The picture shows one of the cells of the Augustinian nuns in Avila - these simple cells or rooms are still used today.
Isn't it interesting that the very person who was to strengthen the rigours of life of the Carmelites was initially dissuaded from pursuing her vocation because of those same rigours. I think that this is possibly an example of how God calls each of us for something specific which will only become clear over the passage of time.
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