Holy Women's History Month: Saint Teresa of Avila

The saints make themselves known to me in different ways. It’s almost like they are pursuing me for attention, popping up repeatedly on social media, public signs, and even mentions by friends. You’d think the saints were politely knocking on my front door to introduce themselves, “Hello, Maria, can we be friends?” Except for Saint Teresa of Avila. She barged into my life like a bull through a China shop.  

The result was a contentious relationship. Persistent on her part. Resistant on mine. 

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Saint Teresa Was a Formidable Woman of Faith and Reform 

My mother, aunts, and even my mother-in-law studied at a Carmelite school named after Saint Teresa, so every spring there was some reunion or breakfast or random excuse to get together and every October 15th there was a party on her feast day. I never wanted to be a part of any of it. When I grew up and moved out, I never gave St. Teresa another thought. 

To be honest, I never gave most elements of my faith another thought. My Catholicism became lukewarm at best, performative in most areas until I finally stopped altogether. It was Saint Teresa who offered me some consolation on my return to Communion. It turns out, Saint Teresa had first-hand knowledge of the performative expression of the faith until, late in life, she became truly convicted. 

The Saint Teresa I had known while growing up was a newly minted Doctor of the Church, a formidable woman who reformed the Carmelite Order, founding monasteries across Spain and parts of Portugal. A woman who was unafraid of the challenges strong leadership required of her both with the Carmelite Order as she faced opposition for wanting reform, and in the political arena of the 1500s as she negotiated for land and regulations in the establishment of monasteries in areas resistant to change. When I returned to the faith, it was Saint Teresa’s reputation as a change-maker that drew my attention. 

Saint Teresa was Human but by Grace became Holy 

I discovered a woman who had many of the same human challenges that get in my way on the path to holiness. As a young nun, Teresa maintained many ties to a life of comfort and privilege. She grew up in a wealthy family and because of the lax imposition of the rules, she carried much of that creature-comfort, and its attitudes, into the convent. She kept many books, most deeply mired in the culture of the time. While Teresa wanted to be a nun, and felt called, she struggled with her vocation and was inconsistent in keeping the Carmelite Rule. I was encouraged to discover that she had great difficulty with prayer. Her vocation and spiritual growth was marked by struggle, and her struggles resonated with me. 

Saint Teresa was quite human. She suffered from migraines. Wrote notes and poems on scraps of paper. Recoiled at the thought of writing her life story for posterity, pooh-poohing the thought that anyone would care. Yet, in her writings I discovered the real Teresa, a woman deeply, inexorably in love with the Lord. A woman with a biting sense of humor. A project manager who would rival today’s best. Of course, she is best known for her spiritual writings, notably The Interior Castle, a study of the soul that was not only deep and accessible but filled with practical guidance for our spiritual growth. 

I knew the woman on paper, with the lists of attributes and patronages, but what I longed for was a relationship with a saint who was a real person, someone like me, who wanted to be holy, not as a ticket to heaven but a woman who knew both the joys and sorrows of this life, and lived in the Hope offered by our Lord. 

I found in Saint Teresa a friend and companion who was just as messy as me, and yet, through Grace, turned her every moment over to the Lord. She modeled for me an accessible relationship with our Lord, not only referring to him as her friend, but exhorting others to talk with Him throughout the day, as one would a friend. I was smitten with this idea. I hadn’t considered that spontaneous prayer could, would, draw me closer to Jesus. 

I’m grateful for this spiritual friend. She found me so I could find her. In this friendship, Saint Teresa introduced me to a new way of relating not only to her, but to the saints: friends waiting to be found. 

During Women's History Month, Catholic Mom writers are celebrating the women who have inspired their faith journeys — whether canonized saints, saints in progress, or beloved women from Scripture. Through personal reflections and heartfelt stories, they share how these holy women have touched their lives, offering wisdom, strength, and a deeper connection to God. Join us as we honor the spiritual legacy of these remarkable women and the lasting impact they continue to have on our hearts and souls. 

Copyright 2025 Maria Morera Johnson
Images: Holy Cross Family Ministries