Lenten Reflections | women's history month | catholic mom | Holy Women's History Month
It seems like a lifetime ago when I was first introduced to Venerable Maria Teresa Quevedo, or “Teresita,” as she was affectionately nicknamed. During my early 20s, fresh out of college and searching for meaning in life, I experienced a deep reversion back to the faith. Guided by the steady hand of the Blessed Mother, I was discerning consecrated life, visiting with several religious communities, and discovering my love for Carmelite spirituality in the process.
Imperfect as I was, I was still eager to serve God in whatever vocation He intended for my life. Absorbing the writings of the popular saints of Carmel, Saint Thérèse, Saint Teresa of Avila, and Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity, all became heavenly friends and mentors to me. But there was one saintly woman, less widely known, who unexpectedly became a source of inspiration to me during my time of discerning.
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Leading Others to Jesus
When I learned about the life of the young Spanish Carmelite of Charity, born in 1930, through her biography, Mary Was Her Life, I could instantly relate to her enthusiasm for life and her active lifestyle. There were many characteristics of hers that I could identify with, but mostly I was in awe of her exceptional piety and felt like I could only admire her from a distance. Being a lifetime tennis player, I was immediately attracted to her when I discovered her love and talent for the game. Spirited, vivacious, and athletic are all words that could describe Teresita in her younger years.
She loved parties, dancing, and sports, but none of these could satisfy her and quench her desire for holiness and her love for the Blessed Mother. She possessed a contagious zeal for life that inspired others around her and drew them to her with a magnetic force. She was joyful, energetic, and confident — traits that made her an excellent role model and leader to her friends and classmates. Teresita was the young woman I could only aspire to be, and, after hearing her story, she became a source of encouragement and hope for me.
Overcoming Faults with the Help of Mary
As a young child, Teresita was described as impetuous, self-willed, and with a bad temper — faults that I, too, have struggled with. These defects all but disappeared after her First Communion, when her extraordinary devotion to the Blessed Mother was solidified. This deepened conversion she experienced helped to inspire me with the hope that when God touches our hearts, we can be changed.
After her First Communion, Teresita’s devotion to Jesus and Mary continued to increase. In a letter to her friend and former teacher, she expressed her growing desire to be good and follow Jesus. She loved and honored the Blessed Mother throughout her short life and made her consecration to Mary using the formula of St. Louis de Montfort. The influence of her story drew me toward a deeper desire for God and love for Our Lady.
Set Apart from the Beginning
One of her teachers once remarked that Teresita was “born with” her natural piety and holiness. Her childhood faults aside, she seemed to be set apart from the beginning and did not struggle with serious sin. Many of us, including me, may find it difficult to relate to this impeccable holiness. It is easier for us to identify with a St. Paul or a St. Mary Magdalene. Holy men and women like Teresita are beacons of light for us as we struggle along through the dark and treacherous waters of life. When we feel lost or discouraged by our weaknesses, they help to guide us to shore with the examples their lives have left behind. They prove to us that sanctity is possible. They are the wise and capable leaders we turn to in our journey to heaven.
The Saints Walk Among Us
When we read the lives of the saints, images that often come to mind are those of flawlessly chiseled marble statues in our churches and faded, vintage prayer cards handed down over generations. Getting to know a holy woman like Teresita, who was an ordinary schoolgirl — well-liked by her peers, captain of the basketball team and, with her competitive nature, determined to win a tennis championship — opened my eyes years ago to the surprising reality that the saints are often just like you and me. What sets them apart, I realized, is their untiring and single-minded love for Jesus, their desire for holiness, and their courage and willingness to rise each time they fall.
This little-known story of a girl whose primary goal was to love the Blessed Virgin and Jesus and to become more like them each day touched my heart long ago, and she continues to lead me. As a mother of three daughters, I have shared Teresita's story with them in hopes that they will be inspired by her life as I have been. She is a lovable and relatable role model, especially for young people today, and an example of heroic virtue and zeal for Jesus and Mary.
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 Tina Mayeux
Images: Holy Cross Family Ministries