Teresa was born in Ávila, Spain, in 1515. She entered the Carmelite convent at twenty and spent nearly two decades, by her own account, praying half-heartedly. Then, in her late thirties, something changed. She went on to reform the Carmelite order, found seventeen convents across Spain, and write The Interior Castle, a classic on the soul’s journey to God. In 1970 she became the first woman named a Doctor of the Church.
Historical Context
Teresa was practical and funny as well as holy. Thrown from a cart into a muddy river on one of her journeys, she is said to have complained to God, and when he told her this is how he treats his friends, she replied, “No wonder you have so few.” The story may be legend, but it sounds like her.
St Teresa’s Bookmark (Nada Te Turbe)
Let nothing disturb you,
let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing.
God alone suffices.
A Prayer to St Teresa of Avila
St Teresa, you learned to pray after years of struggling.
Pray for me when prayer feels dry and distracted.
Help me believe that God is closer than I think,
in the centre of my own soul.
Teach me courage, good humour and trust.
Amen.
A Prayer for Peace in Trouble
Lord, everything around me is shaking.
Remind me that all things pass, and you never change.
You are enough.
Amen.
You may also have seen “Christ has no body now on earth but yours” attributed to Teresa. It’s a beautiful prayer, but it doesn’t appear in her writings and seems to date from much later.
Best Times for This Prayer
- On 15 October, St Teresa’s feast.
- When anxiety or bad news shakes you.
- When your prayer life feels dry.
Scripture Connection
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” — Hebrews 13:8
“All things are passing; God never changes” is Teresa’s version of Hebrews 13:8. When everything else moves, he doesn’t.
Related prayers
For another Carmelite, see the Prayer for Priests by St Therese. For trust, the Prayer of Surrender and Prayer of Abandonment. For a fellow woman Doctor of the Church, the Prayer to Saint Catherine of Siena.