Changes

==Carmelites==

==Carmelites==

Teresa permanently entered the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation at Avila. She started to practice and learn mental prayer. Teresa said "tried as hard as I could to keep Jesus Christ present within me....My imagination is so dull that I had no talent for imagining or coming up with great theological thoughts." For eighteen years, she prayed without feeling that she was getting results. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=208 St. Teresa of Avila Doctor fo the Church] Catholic.org</ref> She sympathizes with those who have a difficult time in prayer: "All the trials we endure cannot be compared to these interior battles." For a time, discouraged she gave up praying. Teresa fell ill with malaria. She had a seizure and fell into a coma. Everyone thought she was dead. After 4 days, she recovered and learned that a grave was freshly dug for her. Teresa remained paralyzed in her legs for 3 years. Later, she would attributed her cure to St. Joseph.

Teresa permanently entered the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation at Avila. She started to practice and learn mental prayer. Teresa said "tried as hard as I could to keep Jesus Christ present within me....My imagination is so dull that I had no talent for imagining or coming up with great theological thoughts." For eighteen years, she prayed without feeling that she was getting results. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=208 St. Teresa of Avila Doctor of the Church] Catholic.org</ref> She sympathizes with those who have a difficult time in prayer: "All the trials we endure cannot be compared to these interior battles." For a time, discouraged she gave up praying. Teresa fell ill with malaria. She had a seizure and fell into a coma. Everyone thought she was dead. After 4 days, she recovered and learned that a grave was freshly dug for her. Teresa remained paralyzed in her legs for 3 years. Later, she would attributed her cure to St. Joseph.

The [[Carmelites]] often invited the public to the convent of 140 [[nuns]] to raise money. She met many of her friends there from Avila. Teresa got more involved in flattery, vanity and gossip than spiritual guidance. This was a drain that kept her from God.

The [[Carmelites]] often invited the public to the convent of 140 [[nuns]] to raise money. She met many of her friends there from Avila. Teresa got more involved in flattery, vanity and gossip than spiritual guidance. This was a drain that kept her from God.

At the age of 39, she was moved by the presence of an image of the sorely wounded Christ. This became a conversion which was the start of spiritual development. She began to enjoy a vivid experience of God's presence within her. Teresa started to pray again and God gave her spiritual delights. Prayer of quiet where God's presence overwhelmed her senses. Raptures where God overcame her with glorious foolishness. A prayer of union where she felt the sun of God melt her soul away. She became more relaxed in her conduct. This caused much misundersatanding. Some of her friends thought the devil had overtaken her. People began to talk of her and mock her as crazy. Teresa's director, Diego de Cetina, brought her comfort by encouraging her to continue in mental prayer and to think upon the humanity of Christ. In 1555, Francis Borgia heard her confession and told her that the spirit of God was working in her, that she should concentrate upon Christ's Passion and not resist the ecstatic experience that came to her in prayer.  She couldn't avoid complaining  about the hostility and gossip that surrounded her. Then Jesus told her, "Teresa, that's how I treat my friends" Teresa responded, "No wonder you have so few friends." Since Christ has so few friends, she felt they should be good ones. That is when she decided to reform her Carmelite order.

At the age of 39, she was moved by the presence of an image of the sorely wounded Christ. This became a conversion which was the start of spiritual development. She began to enjoy a vivid experience of God's presence within her. Teresa started to pray again and God gave her spiritual delights. Prayer of quiet where God's presence overwhelmed her senses. Raptures where God overcame her with glorious foolishness. A prayer of union where she felt the sun of God melt her soul away. She became more relaxed in her conduct. This caused much misunderstanding. Some of her friends thought the devil had overtaken her. People began to talk of her and mock her as crazy. Teresa's director, Diego de Cetina, brought her comfort by encouraging her to continue in mental prayer and to think upon the humanity of Christ. In 1555, Francis Borgia heard her confession and told her that the spirit of God was working in her, that she should concentrate upon Christ's Passion and not resist the ecstatic experience that came to her in prayer.  She couldn't avoid complaining  about the hostility and gossip that surrounded her. Then Jesus told her, "Teresa, that's how I treat my friends" Teresa responded, "No wonder you have so few friends." Since Christ has so few friends, she felt they should be good ones. That is when she decided to reform her Carmelite order.

==Reformer==

==Reformer==

At the age of 43, she became determined to start a new convent that went back to the basics of a contemplative order: a simple life of poverty devoted to prayer. No one in religious orders wanted Teresa reminding them of the way God said they should live.

At the age of 43, she became determined to start a new convent that went back to the basics of a contemplative order: a simple life of poverty devoted to prayer. No one in religious orders wanted Teresa reminding them of the way God said they should live.

When plans leaked out about her first convent, St. Joseph's, she was denounced from the pulpit, told by her sisters she should raise money for the convent she was already in, and threatened with the Inquisition. The town started legal proceedings against her. She moved ahead calmly, as if nothing was wrong, trusting in God. She said "May God protect me from gloomy saints." Teresa's many prayers were answered with the first of many covenents. She  founded the convent of Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Primitive Rule of St. Joseph at Avila in 1562.

When plans leaked out about her first convent, St. Joseph's, she was denounced from the pulpit, told by her sisters she should raise money for the convent she was already in, and threatened with the Inquisition. The town started legal proceedings against her. She moved ahead calmly, as if nothing was wrong, trusting in God. She said "May God protect me from gloomy saints." Teresa's many prayers were answered with the first of many covenants. She  founded the convent of Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Primitive Rule of St. Joseph at Avila in 1562.

At St. Joseph's, she was ordered  to write a book of her life. Many people questioned her experiences and this book would either clear her or condemn her. Teresa purposely followed a profound thought with the statement, "But what do I know. I'm just a wretched woman." The Inquisition liked what they read and cleared her.

At St. Joseph's, she was ordered  to write a book of her life. Many people questioned her experiences and this book would either clear her or condemn her. Teresa purposely followed a profound thought with the statement, "But what do I know. I'm just a wretched woman." The Inquisition liked what they read and cleared her.