Saint Teresa Of Avila Research Paper

Saint Teresa of Avila is the patron of headache sufferers and she is a spanish catholic writer. She was born on March 28, 1515 and died on October 4, 1582. Saint Teresa of Avila’s feast day is October 15.
Growing up, Saint Teresa of Avila had a strict father and a loving mother. Her father was always strict when it came to her. Saint Teresa of Avila was convinced that she was a horrible sinner. As a teenager, she only cared about boys, clothes, flirting, and rebelling. When she was sixteen, her father decided that she was out of control and sent her to a convent. At first she hated it, but as time passed on, she began to enjoy it -- partly because of her growing love for God, and partly because the convent was a lot less strict than her father.
When it was time for her to choose between marriage or a religious life, she had a tough time making the decision. She had watched a difficult marriage ruin her mother and being a nun didn't seem much fun for her. But she finally chose a religious life anyways, she did so because she thought that it was the only safe place for someone as prone to sin as she was. Teresa suffered the same problem that Francis of Assisi did and that problem was that she was too charming. Everyone liked her and she liked to be liked. She found it too easy to slip into a worldly life and ignore God. The convent encouraged her to have visitors to whom she would teach mental prayer because their gifts helped the community economy. But Teresa got more involved in flattery, vanity and gossip than spiritual guidance. These problems kept her from God. Shortly after becoming a nun, Saint Teresa of Avila experienced a severe illness called malaria, which left her in great pain for a long period. At one point, She feared that her illness was so severe that she would not be able to recover. However during this period of intense physical pain, she began to increasingly experience divine visions and an inner sense of peace. These inner experiences of joy and peace seemed to transcend the intense physical pain of the body. When she recovered, she began to guided the nuns not just through strict disciplines, but also through the power of love, and common sense. I choose Saint Teresa of Avila to be my patron saint because she was my saint since I was baptized.
I did considered to pick Saint Dymphna as my saint, but I never felt as connected with her as I was with Saint Teresa Of Avila. In the past few days, When I was struggling with stress, I would ask Saint Dymphna to help me, but I felt like I was asking a stranger. But when I thought about Saint Teresa of Avila, I felt like I knew her since forever. I knew that Saint Teresa during my process when I was receiving my First Holy Communion sacrament, but I never thought much of her. It wasn't until two years ago, during Sunday school, when we had to do a project about a Saint and I pick Saint Teresa of Avila as my saint to research on since I heard that my Godmother and parents agree to have her as my saint. It had always been Saint Theresa. When I researched Saint Teresa, I found her quotes very inspiring. One of the quotes that Saint Teresa of Avila stated was that, “The important thing is not to think much but to love much and so do that which best stirs you to love. Love is not great delight but desire to please God in everything” and I could not agree more to that quote. I just overthink a lot and overthinking causes me to stress. Instead of overthinking and constantly stressing, I should display love and kindness instead, since it’s what God would want me to do instead. There’s also this quote where Saint Teresa of Avila stated, “Let nothing upset you, let nothing startle
you. All things pass; God does not change. Patience wins all it seeks.Whoever has God, lacks nothing: God alone is enough” and everytime I read this quote, I always felt the same feeling I felt since I was fifteen. I felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulder and that nothing is impossible since I have God by my side.