Saint Teresa of Avila | Stories of Saints | English

Summary

The video script narrates the inspiring life of Saint Teresa of Avila, who faced distractions during prayer but eventually found profound spiritual experiences. From childhood aspirations to become a martyr to her struggle with worldly distractions, the story highlights her journey to reform the Carmelite order, establish new monasteries, and her eventual canonization as a Doctor of the Church. The script also offers practical advice on prayer, encouraging a personal and relaxed approach to communicating with God.

Takeaways

• 🙏 The script begins with a prayer to Hail Mary, emphasizing the importance of faith and prayer in the narrative.
• 😕 Jim struggles with distractions during prayer, highlighting the common challenge of maintaining focus in spiritual practices.
• 👼 Joanne introduces Saint Teresa of Avila as an example of someone who faced similar struggles with prayer, providing a historical context for overcoming such challenges.
• 🏰 Saint Teresa was born in Avila, Spain, in 1515, setting the stage for her life's journey and the societal norms of her time.
• 📚 As a child, Teresa was influenced by books on saints and martyrs, which sparked her early desire for a spiritual life.
• 🏰🧍‍♂️ Teresa and her brother Rodrigo's childhood attempt to become martyrs was thwarted, illustrating their naive yet earnest pursuit of holiness.
• 💃 In her adolescence, Teresa was swayed by worldly vanities, such as fashion and gossip, which temporarily diverted her from her spiritual path.
• 🏛️ After her mother's death, Teresa's life took a turn towards spirituality, leading her to join the Augustinian convent and later the Carmelite Order.
• 🤔 Teresa's spiritual awakening included mystical experiences and visions, which deepened her faith and connection with God.
• 🏠 Teresa's reformative efforts led to the establishment of a new convent and the Discalced Carmelite Order, emphasizing a return to simplicity and strict adherence to religious rules.
• 🌍 Along with Saint John of the Cross, Teresa founded multiple monasteries, spreading her reformative vision across regions.
• 🕊️ Teresa's legacy was recognized posthumously with canonization and her proclamation as a Doctor of the Church, solidifying her influence on spiritual thought and practice.

Q & A

Who is the main character struggling with prayer concentration in the script?

The main character struggling with prayer concentration is Jim.

What is the significance of the 'Hail Mary' prayer in the script?

The 'Hail Mary' prayer is a central part of the script, representing the religious devotion and the struggle the characters face in maintaining their focus during prayer.

Who is Saint Teresa of Avila and what is her relevance to the script?

Saint Teresa of Avila was a 15th-century saint known for her mystical experiences and the reform of the Carmelite order. She is relevant to the script as she faced similar struggles with prayer concentration as Jim does.

What childhood plan did Saint Teresa and her brother Rodrigo attempt to execute?

Saint Teresa and her brother Rodrigo attempted to secretly go to the land of the Moors, hoping to die for Christ and thus enter heaven easily as martyrs.

How did Saint Teresa's life change after her mother's death?

After her mother's death, Saint Teresa turned to deep prayer and devotion, eventually deciding to join the Carmelite order against her father's will.

What was the turning point for Saint Teresa in her spiritual journey?

The turning point in Saint Teresa's spiritual journey was when she began to have vivid experiences of God's love, starting at the age of 39, which led to her mystical experiences.

What did Saint Teresa found, and what was its purpose?

Saint Teresa founded the Order of the Discalced Carmelites, which aimed to return to the basics of the contemplative order, leading a simple life of poverty and prayer.

How many monasteries did Saint Teresa and Saint John of the Cross open together?

Saint Teresa and Saint John of the Cross opened more than 30 monasteries across the world.

What advice does Uncle Francis give to Jim to help him concentrate better during prayers?

Uncle Francis advises Jim to be relaxed during prayers and to start talking to God as if He's a friend, sharing his day or fears, as God is always willing to listen.

What is the significance of the symbol of Saint Teresa, and when is her feast day celebrated?

The symbol of Saint Teresa is a heart, an arrow, and a book, representing her love for God, the wound of love she experienced, and her contribution to the Church's doctrine. Her feast day is celebrated every year on October 15th.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Struggling with Prayers and Saint Teresa's Influence

The first paragraph introduces a conversation between Joanne and Jim, who is having difficulty concentrating during prayers. Joanne suggests Saint Teresa of Avila as a historical figure who faced similar struggles. Uncle Francis is expected to provide guidance, and when he arrives, he confirms Saint Teresa's relevance and promises to share her story, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of faith and prayer.

05:00

🌱 Childhood Aspirations and the Path to Faith

In the second paragraph, we delve into Saint Teresa's early life, from her childhood fantasies of martyrdom with her brother Rodrigo to her eventual fascination with worldly beauty and social status. After her mother's death, Teresa experiences a spiritual awakening and is influenced by the devout lifestyle of her cousin and the Augustinian convent she attends. This period marks her transition from vanity to piety, laying the foundation for her religious vocation.

10:00

🛕 The Spiritual Journey and Founding of the Discalced Carmelites

The third paragraph describes Teresa's challenging journey as a nun, her illness, and miraculous recovery, leading to profound spiritual experiences. Disillusioned with the worldly distractions within the convent, she decides to reform the Carmelite order by establishing a new, stricter convent focused on poverty and prayer. Despite resistance, she forges ahead, founding the Discalced Carmelites and emphasizing a return to the order's contemplative roots.

15:03

📚 Saint Teresa's Legacy and Her Teachings on Prayer

In the fourth paragraph, we learn about Saint Teresa's analogy of prayer as watering a garden, with four stages of spiritual development. She and Saint John of the Cross establish the Discalced Carmelites, emphasizing simplicity and a direct relationship with God. Teresa's health declines, but she accepts her fate with grace, reflecting on her life's purpose and spiritual journey, which culminates in her death and eventual canonization.

20:04

🕊️ Embracing a Personal Relationship with God through Prayer

The final paragraph concludes the story with Uncle Francis imparting wisdom to Jim about prayer. He suggests a relaxed approach and treating prayer as a conversation with a friend, sharing one's day and fears. This personal connection with God is emphasized as a way to enhance the prayer experience. The conversation ends with an immediate invitation to pray, highlighting the practical application of the advice given.

Keywords

💡Hail Mary

The 'Hail Mary' is a traditional Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary, expressing veneration and asking for her intercession. In the script, it is recited multiple times, symbolizing the central role of prayer and devotion in the narrative. It is also the prayer that Jim struggles with, as he finds his mind wandering during its recitation.

💡Saint Teresa of Avila

Saint Teresa of Avila was a 16th-century Spanish mystic, writer, and reformer who is considered a Doctor of the Church. The script uses her as an example of someone who faced similar struggles with prayer as Jim does, providing a historical context and a source of inspiration for overcoming spiritual challenges.

💡Mystical Experiences

Mystical experiences refer to direct, personal encounters with the divine or a deep sense of spiritual connection. In the script, Saint Teresa's visions and experiences of God's love are highlighted as pivotal moments in her spiritual journey, illustrating the transformative power of such experiences.

💡Carmelite Order

The Carmelite Order is a Roman Catholic religious order that emphasizes a contemplative life, prayer, and community living. Saint Teresa was a member of this order and later founded the Discalced Carmelites, which the script mentions as part of her reform efforts to return to the order's original ascetic practices.

💡Martyrdom

Martyrdom is the act of suffering or dying for one's faith. In the script, young Teresa and Rodrigo's plan to go to the land of the Moors to seek martyrdom is an early example of their desire for a holy life, although it is thwarted by their uncle.

💡Secularization

Secularization in a religious context refers to the process of becoming less focused on spiritual matters and more on worldly concerns. The script shows how Saint Teresa was initially drawn to secular pleasures, such as fashion and beauty, before returning to her spiritual path.

💡Spiritual Reform

Spiritual reform involves a process of self-improvement and renewal in one's spiritual life. The script describes Saint Teresa's efforts to reform her own life and the Carmelite Order, emphasizing the importance of returning to a life of simplicity, poverty, and dedicated prayer.

💡Discalced Carmelites

The Discalced Carmelites, or 'barefoot' Carmelites, is a branch of the Carmelite Order that Saint Teresa founded, characterized by a stricter adherence to the original rules of the order, including a renunciation of shoes as a symbol of simplicity and humility.

💡Mystical Union

Mystical union is a term used to describe the ultimate goal of mystical prayer, where the individual's soul is united with God in a profound and intimate way. The script mentions this concept in relation to Saint Teresa's experiences, indicating the depth of her spiritual connection with the divine.

💡Doctor of the Church

A Doctor of the Church is a title given by the Catholic Church to theologians and writers whose teachings have been deemed beneficial to the spiritual development of the faithful. The script mentions that Saint Teresa was proclaimed as one of the first women Doctors of the Church, highlighting her significant contributions to Catholic theology and spirituality.

💡Prayer Concentration

Prayer concentration refers to the ability to focus one's thoughts and attention during prayer. The script addresses this concept through Jim's struggle with distractions during prayer and the advice given by Uncle Francis to help him improve his concentration by treating prayer as a conversation with God.

Highlights

Introduction of Saint Teresa of Avila and her struggle with prayer concentration.

Teresa's childhood aspiration to become a martyr and her thwarted attempt with her brother Rodrigo.

Teresa's early fascination with romantic novels and her pursuit of worldly beauty over spiritual devotion.

The transformative impact of Teresa's mother's death on her spiritual journey.

Teresa's admission to the Augustinian convent and her initial resistance to a religious life.

The influence of the novice mistress and Saint Jerome's letters on Teresa's decision to become a nun.

Teresa's illness and miraculous recovery, which marked a turning point in her spiritual life.

Teresa's mystical experiences, including visions of God's hands and the transfiguration of her heart.

Teresa's realization of the need for reform within the Carmelite Order and her decision to establish a new convent.

The founding of the first monastery, Saint Joseph, and the principles of simplicity and poverty it represented.

Teresa's analogy of prayer as watering a garden, with four stages of spiritual development.

The establishment of the Discalced Carmelites, emphasizing a return to the original contemplative ideals.

Teresa and Saint John of the Cross's collaboration in founding over 30 monasteries.

Teresa's final illness and her acceptance of it as God's call to her eternal rest.

Saint Teresa's canonization and her recognition as a Doctor of the Church.

The advice given to Jim on how to improve prayer concentration by treating God as a friend.

The story's conclusion with a call to immediate prayer as a practical application of the advice given.

Transcripts

[Music]

saints

[Music]

so

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

hail mary

full of grace the lord is with thee

blessed are tho among women and blessed

is a fruit of thy womb jesus

holy mary

mother of god

pray for us sinners

now

and add the r of our death

amen

amen

hey jim

is everything all right

huh

yes joanne why did you ask nothing you

looked uncomfortable during the prayers

oh

that's nothing come let's go

[Music]

holy mary

help those in need

give strength to the weak

comfort the sorrowful pray for god's

people

assess the clergy

intercede for religious

marry

all who seek your help experience your

unfailing protection

amen

[Music]

i know something is bothering you

what is it

[Music]

tell me jim it's all right joanne i have

to tell you something

go on

i i'm not able to concentrate while

praying these days

every time i close my eyes images of

films my friends keep popping up i don't

know what to do

hahaha is that a gym

what are you laughing at i

i'm confused i know i want to pray to

god but i am not able to don't worry jim

have you heard of saint teresa of avila

saint teresa of avila

who was that

she was a famous saint who lived in the

15th century

she had the same trouble as you are

having now while praying

is it true

yes jim come on cheer up we'll ask uncle

francis to find us a solution

that's a good idea

why isn't uncle francis here yet he's

supposed to have reached by now

relax jim he must be on his way

that must be him i'll go get the door

hello jim

uncle francis it's so good to see you

haha what happened jim it looks like you

have something to tell me yes uncle but

i

i don't know how to say uncle jim is

having trouble during the prayers he's

unable to concentrate

that's nothing to worry about relax my

boy

i told him that saint theresa of avila

had the same problem as he did

you are such a wonderful girl joan

it's true jim saint teresa of avila the

founder of an order had the same trouble

as you did can you please tell us her

story uncle

of course i will now listen carefully

saint teresa was born in a small village

called avila in spain in 1515

she lived during a time when women were

not allowed to pursue any career and

they were raised and trained to become

good homemakers

[Music]

as a little girl in her parents rich

home teresa and her brother rodrigo

loved to read the books on the lives of

saints and martyrs

hey rodrigo do you know it's quite easy

for saints and martyrs to enter heaven

what it's true

a normal person will have to lead a holy

life for years to enter heaven but for

saints and martyrs it's very easy

is it true

it's true look at the lives of many of

the saints

yeah what you're saying is correct hey i

have an idea

what is it do you want to go to heaven

heaven

yes i do

hush don't talk so loud

martial you mean getting killed

yes rodrigo do you want to go to heaven

yes i do then do as i say

the two children set out secretly to go

to the land of the moors

as they walked along they prayed that

they might die for christ

but before they could get far their

uncle found them

teresa teresa stop there

huh

who is it oh my god it's our uncle

[Music]

hey what are you guys doing up here

we were going to the moons to get we

were going to see the moore's uncle

what

alone

are you mad

now come with me i'll take you home

[Music]

oh

when the plan to get martyred failed

teresa figured another way to seek god

this time she convinced her brother

again to become hermits

they gathered stones in the garden and

piled them up to build hermitages

they wanted to build a hut to pray

father son holy spirit amen

hail mary full of grace

the lord is with thee blessed art though

among women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb

jesus

holy mary mother of god pray for us

sinners now

and at the hour of dead

i mean

amen

but this plan didn't work out either as

they couldn't find enough stones

[Music]

teresa's mother used to read a lot of

books on fashion and beauty

one day teresa happened to see one of

the books in which women were dressed in

lovely clothes

teresa was dazzled by it all it seemed

so attractive to her to be able to look

pleasant and to feel loved by everyone

as she grew up she started imitating

those women in the magazines

she no longer

craved for god but she now loved to look

at herself in the mirror

mirror mirror on the wall who's the

prettiest of them all

teresa's mother died in a few years and

that rattled her family all together

teresa who was barely 14 cried

inconsolably

she had lost her mother

and in her grief she prostrated herself

at the foot of our lady of grace

mother please help

[Music]

teresa grew into a charming teenager

she had the complete attention wherever

she went

by the time she was 15 she was beautiful

witty fond of clothes jewelry and

perfumes

she had a habit of reading romantic

novels with knights and fairies

one of her older cousins came to live

with them for a few days and she was

fond of gossip and vanity

this older cousin influenced theresa and

teresa now set the town a buzz with her

gossips

this caused her father sleepless nights

you should have seen the other guy's

face

ha

haha ha are truly naughty

teresa's father decided that adult

supervision was required for teresa

[Music]

teresa was admitted to an augustinian

convent nearby

this place was like a finishing school

where young women were taught social

skills and things like cooking and

embroidery

this period brought a change in teresa

and she started enjoying her life at the

convent

she found a good friend in the novice

mistress who taught her piety and

goodness

tell me sister you are so beautiful

haven't you received any proposals from

young men

my dear child my heart it belongs only

to our lord

so inspiring

this good companionship removed all the

bad habits that teresa had

theresa slowly recovered her faith in

the lord she started thinking about

becoming a nun

the influence of her devout uncle peter

along with her reading of the letters of

saint jerome teresa was convinced that

the surest way for salvation was to

forsake marriage and other worldly

pleasures she decided to join the

carmelite order against the will of her

father

[Music]

but not long after she joined the order

she became very ill

she was brought home for treatment

hmm

she's not responding to medical

treatment at all i don't know what to do

oh lord please save her

[Music]

she experienced severe pain and physical

paralysis for almost two years

she was even expected to die when she

went into a coma for four days

[Music]

but she somehow recovered a little bit

and insisted on returning to the

monastery even though she remained in a

painful and debilitated state

but theresa why so soon you can't stay

here for few more weeks and as you are

better i will take you to the monastery

myself

no father

you don't understand i have to go

during the next three years teresa made

remarkable progress in her spiritual

life

through the intercession of saint joseph

she miraculously recovered her health as

her health returned she lapsed more and

more into a routine prayer life

beginning at the age of 39 teresa began

to have vivid experiences of god's love

ah

one day while she was praying the lord

revealed himself to her only showing his

hands

oh lord thank you thank you so much

a few days later teresa saw a divine

face

[Music]

and then on another day teresa saw the

resurrected body of lord jesus the

vision was accompanied by a light so

majestic that it could not be compared

with others

her continued prayers led to mystical

experiences like the transfiguration of

her heart

one day in her dreams an angel appeared

to her holding a long spear

the tip of the spear was glowing with

fire

the angel pierced her heart several

times and when he drew the spear out

teresa experienced a great change in her

heart

she was now filled with great love for

god

teresa's work of reform began with

herself

she was troubled by the worldly

pleasures such as wealth and beauty

she was also disturbed by this steady

stream of visitors to the convents

parlor

such things distracted her from her

prayer and kept her from god

she then decided to follow the

carmelite's rule as perfectly as she

could

but the prevailing atmosphere at the

convent didn't help her

mother superior i want to tell you

something

what is it sister

mother

i find the atmosphere here very

disturbing

and i'm not able to concentrate properly

during prayers

i i think our order has lost its way

what are you trying to say sister

are you saying that we are not following

our rules properly

i i think the order has become two laps

in practicing our rules huh

how dare you i'm sorry mother superior

but i'm going to leave this order

leave this order

what are you going to do then

i have decided to start a new convent a

cornman that would return to the basics

of the contemplative order a convent

where we will lead a simple life of

poverty and prayers

and are you going to do all this by

yourself no mother few other sisters

here share my point of view as well

they will accompany me in building this

new order all right whatever difference

we may have

i wish you all the very best

god bless you my child

thank you mother

teresa started the first monastery saint

joseph in february 1562 along with four

other novices

[Music]

like i said before

i think the prayers can be best compared

to watering a garden there are four

different ways to water a garden

the first stage of hearts devotion is

like drawing water from the well by

one's own effort

this is a slow and painful stage

where we are filled drop by drop

we must accept this

we must wait and prepare our garden for

the life

the second stage is

the prayer of the quiet it's like a

gardener drawing water from a well with

the help of a pulley our strain or

burden is much reduced

and we become quite detached

on arriving at this state the soul

begins to lose desire for earthly things

there are fewer and fewer distractions

we are given over to christ

and are transformed through him

into more perfect person

the third stage can be described as a

garden that has been irrigated using

water from the stream here the lord

takes over and becomes the gardener

himself here we are in a state of

perfect joy this stage is almost a

complete union

except that we are conscious of our

ecstasy

the fourth stage devotion of ecstasy

or rupture is compared to water being

provided by god in the form of rain

in this form of prayer

bodily sensations are lost in a pure

union with god

in this stage time memory

and imagination melts away

leaving one and only the presence of god

[Music]

together with her friend saint john of

the cross she founded what is known

today as the order of the discoursed

carmelites

discounts means barefoot symbolizing the

simplicity to which they chose to return

the order after a period of corruption

[Music]

teresa and john traveled far and wide to

open more than 30 monasteries across the

world

teresa's health failed for the last time

while she was traveling through

salamanca in 1582

she accepted her illness as god's chosen

means of calling her to his kingdom

oh my lord and my spouse the desired

hour is now come the r is at last come

there i shall pass out of this exile and

my soul shall enjoy your company what it

has so earnestly so longed for

saint teresa died on 15th october

1582. she was canonized on march 22nd

1622 along with three of her greatest

contemporaries saint ignatius loyola

saint francis xavier and saint philip

mary

in 1970

pope paul vi proclaimed saint teresa as

one of the first two women doctors of

the church

along with 14th century dominican saint

catherine of siena

her symbol is a heart an arrow and a

book and her feast day is celebrated

every year on october 15th

[Music]

that was such a good story uncle

thank you jim

did you see

this saint had the same trouble as you

wild prayers how can i concentrate more

on my prayers uncle

it's very easy jim

first thing is you should be relaxed

during your prayers

then you should simply start talking to

god as if he's a friend

you can talk to him about how your day

was or what your fears are just anything

god is always there jim willing and

eager to listen to what you have to say

wow that sounds so easy i'll try that

tonight itself

that's good jim

why wait till the night let's go and

pray right now

yes let's go and pray now that's very

good

you let me know how your prayer went

tomorrow

it's time for me to leave

[Music]

goodbye uncle

goodbye both of you

[Music]

saints

[Music]

you