Virgin and Doctor of the Church · Feast day October 15
St. Teresa of Ávila
The feast day of St. Teresa of Ávila is October 15, a memorial in the US Catholic calendar. Traditionally invoked as patron of those who suffer headaches, and Spain. Below: a short life and 6 sourced quotations in their own words.
| Feast day | October 15 |
|---|---|
| In the US calendar | Memorial |
| Title | Virgin and Doctor of the Church |
| Died | 1582 |
| Patron of | those who suffer headaches, Spain |
| In their own words | 6 sourced quotations |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
A Spanish noblewoman who entered Carmel at twenty and spent two decades as a mediocre religious, by her own account, before a conversion before an image of the wounded Christ set her on fire. She reformed the Carmelite order against fierce opposition, founding seventeen convents across Spain.
Her books — the Life, the Way of Perfection, the Interior Castle — map the soul’s journey to union with God with such clarity that she was named the first woman Doctor of the Church.
Patron of
Tradition invokes St. Teresa of Ávila as patron of those who suffer headaches, and Spain.
Saints with the same patronage
- St. JamesSpain · July 25
Patronages are traditional, not an official list. All patron saints in Bless, A to Z.
In their own words
Each quotation names the work it comes from. Bless quotes these in the comments beside the verses listed under In Scripture.
Let nothing disturb thee, let nothing frighten thee; all things are passing, God never changes. Patience obtains all things; whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.
Prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.
The Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which they are done.
Humility is truth.
Mental prayer is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.
Be determined, and never give up; a soul which resolves to walk with determination will reach the end.
In Scripture
In Bless, St. Teresa of Ávila’s words appear in the comments beside these verses. This page’s labels say how each is linked: “on this verse” means the saint wrote about that very verse; “on this theme” means the quotation shares its theme. Scripture is quoted from the Catholic Public Domain Version.
On this theme
But the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, just as a man is used to speaking to his friend. And when he returned to the camp, his minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, did not withdraw from the Tabernacle.
Exodus 33:11 · CPDV Beside their words: “Prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.”
On this theme
A Psalm of David. The Lord directs me, and nothing will be lacking to me.
Psalm 22:1 · CPDV Beside their words: “Let nothing disturb thee, let nothing frighten thee; all things are passing, God never…”
On this theme
But you, when you pray, enter into your room, and having shut the door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.
Matthew 6:6 · CPDV Beside their words: “Mental prayer is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking…”
On this theme
Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for the future day will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil.”
Matthew 6:34 · CPDV Beside their words: “Let nothing disturb thee, let nothing frighten thee; all things are passing, God never…”
On this theme
And rising up very early, departing, he went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.
Mark 1:35 · CPDV Beside their words: “Mental prayer is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking…”
On this theme
And calling together his disciples, he said to them: “Amen I say to you, that this poor widow has put in more than all those who contributed to the offertory. For they all gave from their abundance, yet truly, she gave from her scarcity, even all that she had, her entire living.”
Mark 12:43–44 · CPDV Beside their words: “The Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which…”
On this theme
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow, and then looks back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luke 9:62 · CPDV Beside their words: “Be determined, and never give up; a soul which resolves to walk with determination will…”
On this theme
For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
Luke 14:11 · CPDV Beside their words: “Humility is truth.”
5 more verses
On this theme
I will no longer call you servants, for the servant does not know what his Lord is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything whatsoever that I have heard from my Father, I have made known to you.
John 15:15 · CPDV Beside their words: “Prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.”
On this theme
And if I distribute all my goods in order to feed the poor, and if I hand over my body to be burned, yet not have charity, it offers me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3 · CPDV Beside their words: “The Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our works as at the love with which…”
On this theme
Let nothing be done by contention, nor in vain glory. Instead, in humility, let each of you esteem others to be better than himself.
Philippians 2:3 · CPDV Beside their words: “Humility is truth.”
On this theme
I pursue the destination, the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 · CPDV Beside their words: “Be determined, and never give up; a soul which resolves to walk with determination will…”
On this theme
Jesus Christ, yesterday and today; Jesus Christ forever.
Hebrews 13:8 · CPDV Beside their words: “Let nothing disturb thee, let nothing frighten thee; all things are passing, God never…”
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Teresa of Ávila. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Teresa of Ávila keeps October 15 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of October.
All the saints of October Born on October 15? A saint for every day
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