St. Teresa of Ávila, whose original name was Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, was born on March 28, 1515, in Avila, Spain, (2 years before the start of the Protestant Reformation). She entered the cloistered Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation in her hometown of Ávila against her father’s wishes at age 20. Her health declined shortly after entering the order with physical and mental health struggles. This led her to write what is considered one of the greatest spiritual guides known in 1577, The Interior Castle. She also wrote several other spiritual pieces and became the key reformer of the Carmelite Order. By doing so, she founded a new branch of the Carmelites, called the Discalced Carmelites. By doing so, she founded several more convents and monasteries with this reformation, with the first being, St. Joseph’s, which still exits in Ávila today. (from Hallow, 2025: https://hallow.com/blog/st-teresa-of-avila-prayers-quotes-feast-day/#Carmelite-nun
