"Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Petience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices."
– St Teresa of Ávila
Today we celebrate one of the Church’s greatest mystics and reformers — St Teresa of Ávila, Carmelite nun, Doctor of the Church, and luminous guide on the way of prayer.
Born in 1515 in Ávila, Spain, Teresa’s courageous reform of the Carmelite Order and her deep contemplative writings — including The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection — continue to inspire countless seekers of God.
Her example profoundly shaped the spirituality of St John of the Cross, St Thérèse of Lisieux, St Titus Brandsma, and St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, all of whom followed her radiant path of prayer, simplicity, and transformation.
May her words remind us that God alone is enough.
Learn more about Carmelite saints and spirituality