Teresa of Avila was born in Spain in 1515. Her strict but loving father sent her to a convent when she was 16 years old. Teresa discovered that she liked living in community with the other sisters. She liked living a very simple life.
At times Teresa felt herself growing away from God. She tried to pray but found it difficult. However, Teresa stayed faithful to God because she knew that it was what he wanted her to do.
Teresa wrote what she had learned about prayer and traveled throughout Spain to teach people about the simple life she lived. The things she wrote were so important that she was named a Doctor of the Church, a special kind of teacher. People who want to learn about prayer still read her books today. Her feast day is October 15.