Hello, and welcome to St. St. Stories for Kids, a weekly podcast full of fun stories and facts about the holy men and women that have come before us.

I'm your host Shantal Baros.

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Today we'll be telling the story of St. Teresa of Avala, whose feast is celebrated on October 15th.

Teresa was born in 1515 in Avala, Spain.

Her father was a very successful wool merchant and had three children from a previous marriage, before marrying Teresa's mother.

She was raised in a Christian home surrounded by the lives of the saints.

In fact, when she was seven, she tried to run away from home with her brother Rodrigo to go to the Holy Land.

But luckily, she was spotted by her uncle on her way out of town.

Sadly, Teresa's mother died when she was only 11 years old.

But that sadness led Teresa to a closer relationship with the blessed mother that she maintained throughout her life.

When she was 18, Teresa decided to join the Carmelites and became a nun.

She was very interested in contemplative prayer, and after a while found herself at odds with the atmosphere of the convent.

She felt it was too relaxed and not good for a contemplative life.

She decided to reform the Carmelite Order and revive the earlier and more strict monastic rules.

During the course of her life, St. Teresa founded many new conments under the reform rules, and was helped by another famous saint, St. John of the Cross.

St. Teresa of Avala was also a prolific spiritual writer and mystic, and her book, The Interior Castle, is one of her most famous works.

Her writings led her to be named as the first ever female doctor of the church.

St. Teresa of Avala is the patron saint of the sick, Spain, lace makers, and people in religious orders.

Now it's time for our story.

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