St. Teresa of Avila: Doctor of the Church
October 15 is the feast of St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), virgin and Doctor of the Church. She helped reform the Carmelite order and founded seventeen monasteries. Teresa de Ahumada y Cepeda was born in Avila, Castile, Spain, on March 28, 1515. Her family was prominent, as her father was a wealthy merchant. Teresa was the "most beloved" among her nine brothers and sisters. From her youth, she showed great zeal and piety, as well as courage. However, the one trait of Teresa that stood out the most was her strong will. When she was seven years old, St. Teresa ran away with her brother to the land occupied by the Moors in hopes of attaining the crown of martyrdom. However, they only made it a few miles down the road. Teresa was considered by all those around her to be exceptionally beautiful. She also had an irresistible charm, a sharp wit, a kind nature, and was lively and animated. She was extroverted and sociable. Everyone loved to be around...