Born: 28 March 1515, Spain
Died: 4 October 1582
Country most active: Spain
Also known as: Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Dávila y Ahumada, Saint Teresa of Jesus
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Teresa de Copeda was born at Avila, in Castile, Spain. In her childhood she manifested unusual spirituality. In her own account of her life, she records that as a child she often stood enraptured, repeating the momentous words, ‘‘Eternity, eternity, forever, forever.” At eighteen, determined to become a Carmelite nun, and unable to obtain her father’s consent, she ran away from home and entered the convent of the Incarnation at Avila.
Her father then relented and made no further objection. Teresa was inspired by St. Augustine’s Confessions; it was mainly due to the influence of this famous book that she became one of the finest characters of the Catholic Church. Teresa was renowned as a monastic reformer, and as a master of spiritual life. She despised and challenged the apostolic precept which forbade women to teach. She endured persecution and intense suffering, but
lived to see the establishment of seventeen Carmelite institutions in Spain and Portugal. Teresa was a valiant, capable woman; as life lengthened and the years brought heavy responsibilities, she did not become a grim visaged creature of forbidding personality; her natural sweetness was never marred; her sense of peace and ease of heart lightened her burdens, and encouraged her disciples; her ready wit and keen sense of humor made smooth the way and aided her, at times, when cold logic seemed to fail.
Long after her death, her devout countrymen chose Teresa to be the patron saint of the army; they believed that by her prayers,she could lead them to victories.
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