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Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) was a Spanish nun who established the Discalced Carmelites, an order devoted to quiet prayer, poverty and austerity. She is known for her practice of mental prayer and the visions and inner voices she experienced. Teresa's books on spirituality are considered to be classics within the Catholic Church.
Teresa of Avila is best known for her mystical experiences. She believed, however, that her quiet prayer was a superior experience. Throughout her life, Teresa combined a contemplative lifestyle with the activities of daily life.
Teresa of Avila was born Teresa Sanchez de Cepeda y Ahumada on March 28, 1515 in Avila, Spain. Her father, Alonso de Cepeda, had three children from a previous marriage. The family was wealthy, but Alonso de Cepeda's father had been a converso, or secret Jew, during the Inquisition. Therefore, the family lacked the social status of people with racially "pure" backgrounds. Teresa's mother, Beatriz de Ahumada, bore ten children and died in childbirth when Teresa was 13.
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