Week of St Teresa of Avila

Video triubte to St Teresa


Saint Teresa of Ávila, known also by her religious name, Saint Teresa of Jesus and baptized as Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, was born March 28 1515 at Avila, old Castile, Spain, died October 4, 1582 at Alba de Tormes, Salamanca, Spain.

She was a Carmelite nun and prominent Spanish mystic and writer of the Counter Reformation. She reformed her religious Order and together with St John of the Cross founded the Order of Discalced Carmelites. She became the first female to be named a Doctor of the Church in 1970 and is one of the three females to be awarded that honour, along with St Catherine of Siena and another Discalced Carmelite, St Therese of Lisieux.

The slide show starts with panoramic view of Avila, the town built on the hill overlooking the Adaja River and the highest city in Spain. The city is surrounded by distinctive stone walls, we can see the picture of Avila Cathedral followed by vintage and modern pictures of St Teresa convent exteriors - including the Saint statues, and interior - with St Teresa beautiful chapel. These pictures are followed by the image of young Teresa and several of her images painted both by famous artists as well as by more popular productions. We can see also little collection of stained windows depicting the Saint, as found in her convent chapel and in Churches dedicated to her from around the world. We can also see two vintage holy cards dedicated to her. The slide show concludes with the picture of St Teresa reliquary containing her heart and Discalced Carmelites shield followed by drawing representing of St Teresa canonization Mass at St Peter's in Rome back in 17th century. The background music is from the track "Salve Regina" by Benedictine Monks chanting favourite hymn of St Teresa, Ave Verum, followed by Adoro te and short sequence Sub tuum presidium.