Born to the Spanish nobility in 1515, Teresa of Avila’s father was a wealthy wool merchant. As a young girl, she was so inspired to be a martyr that she ran away when she was seven to fight the Moors until she was caught just outside of town by her uncle. After her mother died, at 15 her father sent her to a school run by Augustinian nuns, but Teresa was drawn to the contemplative life and joined the Carmelite order five years later. She nearly died from illness, recovered, and began to have ecstasies. She formed a reformed convent with the help of St. John of the Cross, opened several other Carmelite houses, and died at the age of 67. Her written works including The Interior Castle earned her the title Doctor of the Church.
CHALLENGE
As a child, rather than play “house” St. Teresa of Avila played “hermit” because of her early exposure to the lives of the saints in books. Children imitate what they see and read, and in today’s world there is increasingly less that they should be imitating. Today, buy several books and videos about saints that are made for kids, then contact a local daycare or preschool of your choice and give them the materials as a donation.
