Teresa, << tuh REE suh or tay RAY sah, >> Saint (1515-1582), also spelled Theresa, is a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. She was a Spanish nun, and is one of the patron saints of Spain.
Saint Teresa was born on March 28, 1515, at Avila in Old Castile. Her study at an Augustinian monastery and her reading of the tales of ancient martyrs inspired her to seek martyrdom for herself. In 1533, she entered a Carmelite convent. The lack of asceticism and severity displeased her, but for many years she made no attempt to bring about reforms.
A reading of the Confessions of Saint Augustine, combined with the death of her father and certain supernatural visitations, wakened in her a strong spirituality. She began to feel that it was her duty to restore the Carmelite order to the original austerity of its rule. Accordingly, she withdrew with a few followers in 1562, and set up a new convent to put her ideas into effect. Opposition to her plan was strong, but the pope approved of the idea. At last, the general of the order asked her to introduce her reforms into other convents. She opened many new convents in Castile and even beyond its boundaries, and accomplished much in her efforts to reform existing Carmelite houses.
Several cities contended for her body after her death on Oct. 4, 1582, at Alba de Tormes, near Salamanca. The power of working miracles was believed to be in her relics, which were carried to various places. She was canonized by Pope Gregory in 1622. Saint Teresa wrote an autobiography and several treatises and letters, all published in 1587. Her feast day is October 15.
