Why is it important to hold on to the way of life St. Teresa founded centuries ago?
It is important because only the radical following of the Gospel can cure the ills of mankind. Our way of life was the fruit of St. Teresa’s experience of the love of God. It was her response, her way of following Jesus and encouraging others to do the same. To understand the importance of this way of life it helps us to know who St. Teresa was and what were her motives in establishing this from of contemplative life. St. Teresa was born in Spain in 1515. She entered the monastery of the Incarnation in Avila when she was about 20 years old. The nuns followed the Carmelite way of life but were not enclosed. They had an elaborate liturgy but no regulated time for silent prayer. The house was large with about 200 persons; some were seculars (nieces and sisters of the nuns). There was class distinction and the financial basis was unstable. Much time was spent in the parlous and outside the monastery so that the nuns would have something to eat. St. Teresa came from a wealthy family so she
