10/15/2026
Saint Teresa of Avila Feast Day October 15 β
St. Teresa of Avila was a Spanish noblewoman who felt called
to become a Carmelite nun, canonized 40 years after her death in 1582.
She reformed the Carmelite Orders of both women and men that went back to the basics of a contemplative order - of a simple life of poverty devoted to prayer π and deepened by ascetic practice.
St. Teresa founded the Discalced Carmelites which included friar and mystic John of the Cross.
She was a prominent mystic and theologian who taught about prayer as a journey leading from outer turmoil to inner peace.
Her writings include her autobiography, βThe Life of Teresa of Jesusβ, βThe Interior Castleβ, and βThe Way of Perfectionβ.
These literary works form part of the canon of Christian mysticism and meditation practice.
St. Teresa was the first female Saint to be proclaimed a βDoctor of the Churchβ β the 4 others are St. Catherine of Siena, St. ThΓ©rΓ¨se of Lisieux, and St. Hildegard of Bingen.
St. Teresa of Avila is the patron saint of headache sufferers and symbols are a heart β€, an arrow, and a book. π