Women in History: Saint Teresa of Avila, My Guide for Prayer

For Holy Women’s History Month, Margaret Rash reflects on how Saint Teresa of Avila has guided and encouraged her prayer life.

I didn't know much of anything about Saint Teresa of Avila for a long time. I vaguely knew somewhere in my memory that she was a Carmelite and something of a reformer, though I couldn't tell you what she was reforming or why. Nor could I tell you anything about her life.

Just recently, maybe in the last year or two, she suddenly seemed to be everywhere I looked. Not only did I inadvertently stumble across her own writing, but other spiritual books and writings of other saints I sought out seemed to constantly reference her as well.

Her life and her wisdom have now influenced me in countless ways, but I want to thank her in this reflection especially for her teaching me how to pray.

Prayer from the heart

I learned, through the friendship of Saint Teresa of Avila, how to speak to God in my own words and how to listen for His voice.

I had read Scripture before and tried to pray using the steps of Lectio Divina, but I personally struggled with ending up being very formulaic in my prayers. I always want to make sure I'm “doing it right,” sometimes to the point of forgetting why I'm praying at all.

Through Saint Teresa’s own words on contemplation, the writings of others about her teachings, and her intercession for me, I've started to remember the point of my prayer time and to keep the end goal in mind: closer union with God.

We are told from an early age that prayer is conversation. My children's Catechism teaches them that prayer is simply “talking to God.” But it doesn't always feel so simple nor does it always feel very conversational. Saint Teresa taught me how the formula, the physical postures, and so on are not as important as the disposition of the heart and the intention.

Conversation is a dialogue: We listen and respond. We listen to the words of Christ through Scripture, or perhaps through meditating on the words of a prayer like the Our Father or even listening to what is spoken to our hearts through a sacred image or nature. We respond in our own words. We tell Christ our joys, our sorrows, our struggles; we thank Him; we plead for help; we ask forgiveness; we make holy resolutions for action and service for God; and when we are done speaking, we sit quietly with Him in our hearts. This is conversation, not formula.

Devotion to Saint Joseph

Saint Teresa also speaks about her personal devotion to Saint Joseph quite a bit in her writing. I've never, until recently, felt much of a personal connection with Saint Joseph. But through her guidance and intercession, I have developed a lasting devotion for Saint Joseph as well, and I am already, quickly seeing the fruits of his intercession in my life.

I am so grateful for the friendship and intercession of Saint Teresa of Avila, and how her writing on prayer has influenced my life.