Teresa of Avila Quotes
Discontent with this world gives such a painful longing to quit it that, if the heart finds comfort, it is solely from the thought that God wishes it to remain here in banishment.
Teresa, of Avila. Interior Castle. Translated by E. Allison Peers, Image Books, 1961, p. 176.
Bahaullah, the Bahai founder, sent letters to the Queen and most of the other major rulers of the world. Only Victoria responded positively. The Bahai believe that as a result Victoria, who came to the throne when most Englishmen felt that she would be the last British monarch, went on to rule for more than 60 years, the longest in history. All the other recipients who ignored their letter including Napoleon, the Pope, the Czar—all came to a relatively rapid end of their reign. Many Bahai believe this was divine will at work.
Teresa of Ávila, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a Spanish noblewoman who felt called to convent life in the Catholic Church. A Carmelite nun, prominent Spanish mystic, religious reformer, author, theologian of the contemplative life and of mental prayer, she earned the rare distinction of being declared a Doctor of the Church, but not until over four centuries after her death. Active during the Catholic Reformation, she reformed the Carmelite Orders of both women and men. The movement she initiated was later joined by the younger Spanish Carmelite friar and mystic John of the Cross. It led eventually to the establishment of the Discalced Carmelites. A formal papal decree adopting the split from the old order was issued in 1580.
