Saint Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582), known in religion as Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a Carmelite nun and mystic who turned ordinary prayer into friendship with God. She entered the Carmelite convent in 1535 and spent nearly fifty years deepening the life of prayer she later taught to the world. For her, prayer was not about duty—it was about love. She believed that when you pray, you don’t just speak to God—you walk with Him.
The Five Principles of Her Prayer Life
💬 1. Prayer as Friendship
“Prayer,” she said, “is an intimate sharing between friends.” For Sister Teresa, prayer wasn’t about sounding holy or saying perfect words. It was about being honest before Someone who already loves you. You can come to God tired, confused, or quiet—He listens to it all.
🌿 2. Mental Prayer — Talking with Jesus Beside You
This was her way. Sister Teresa didn’t worry about technique—she simply loved. She would imagine Jesus sitting beside her and spoke to Him as a friend. Sometimes she talked, sometimes she listened, and sometimes she simply sat in silence, aware that He was near.
🔥 3. Silence that Becomes Fire
Sister Teresa taught that true prayer begins with words, deepens in silence, and ends in love. At first, you speak. Then you listen. And finally, words fade away—not because God has left, but because His presence fills everything. That silence is not emptiness; it is fire.
🏰 4. The Soul as a Castle
She imagined the soul as a castle with seven rooms. The outer rooms are filled with noise and distraction. The inner rooms grow quieter, brighter, closer to peace. At the center is God Himself—where love and will are one. Every prayer is a journey through those rooms until your heart reaches His.
❤️ 5. Keep Praying Even When It’s Dry
There were days Sister Teresa felt nothing—no light, no comfort. But she stayed. “It’s not thinking much but loving much that pleases God,” she said. Even when prayer feels empty, stay. Because love is tested in the waiting, and faith grows in the silence.
Saint Teresa believed that the goal of prayer is not knowledge but transformation. The more you pray, the more you love. And the more you love, the more you become who God created you to be.
⌨ ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ
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