TEN QUOTATIONS FROM SAINT TERESA OF ÁVILA TO HELP YOU GROW SPIRITUALLY

The Fruitful Life of Saint Teresa of Ávila

Saint Teresa of Jesus was born in Ávila, Spain, in 1515. From an early age, she felt drawn to religious life and entered the Carmelite Order. After years of inner struggle, spiritual lukewarmness, and conversion, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to prayer and the pursuit of holiness. She reformed the Carmelite Order, founded numerous convents, and faced many difficulties with fortitude. She was a woman of profound prayer, humility, courage, and love for Jesus Christ. She wrote immortal works such as The Book of Her Life, The Way of Perfection, and The Interior Castle. She died in 1582 and was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church.

Ten Quotations from Saint Teresa on Spiritual Warfare and Prayer

The following quotations are taken from her writings or convey traditional teachings attributed to her. Some have been modernized in spelling; it is important to distinguish verbatim quotations from abbreviated formulations.

I. The Importance of Prayer

1. Prayer is friendship with God.

“Prayer, in my opinion, is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him whom we know loves us.”

— The Book of Her Life, 8, 5.

2. Prayer is the foundation of the spiritual life.

“Without this strong foundation of prayer, the whole building is unstable.”

— The Way of Perfection, 4, 5.

3. We must not abandon prayer because of our failings.

“Never give up prayer, no matter how many faults you commit.”

— Teaching traditionally attributed to Saint Teresa; the exact wording requires verification in her works.

4. Prayer must be translated into deeds.

“The surest sign, in my opinion, that we are keeping these two commandments is that we observe the commandment of love of neighbor well. For whether we love God cannot be known with certainty, although there are great indications that we do; but love of neighbor can indeed be known.”

— The Interior Castle, Fifth Mansions, 3, 8.

II. The Struggle Against Faults and Temptations

5. The Christian life requires combat and perseverance.

“We must walk as those who are going to war.”

— An idea expressed by Saint Teresa in her spiritual teachings; abbreviated formulation.

6. Temptations can help us grow in virtue.

“The temptations and obstacles placed in her way by the devil help her all the more, for it is His Majesty who fights for her.”

— The Foundations, 11, 7.

7. We must fight our faults, even the smallest ones.

“Beware, for through very small things the devil gradually makes holes through which much greater things may enter.”

— The Foundations, 29, 32.

8. Determination is essential for spiritual progress.

“I say that what matters greatly—in fact, what matters most of all—is a great and firmly resolved determination never to stop until we reach it.”

— The Way of Perfection, 21, 2.

III. Trust in God and Perseverance

9. Nothing should separate us from God.

“Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you; all things pass away, God never changes; patience obtains everything.”

— The poem traditionally known as Nada te turbe (“Let Nothing Disturb You”), attributed to Saint Teresa.

10. We must persevere in prayer even amid difficulties.

“Let no one who has begun to pray abandon prayer, no matter how many sins they commit; through prayer they can amend their lives, whereas without it, doing so will be much more difficult.”

— Teaching found in her spiritual writings; the exact wording should be checked against the edition being used.

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Spiritual Conclusion

Saint Teresa’s fundamental teaching is that holiness requires persevering prayer, the struggle against our own faults, humility, determination, and absolute trust in the grace of God. The devil seeks to discourage the soul, distract it, and draw it away from prayer. Therefore, the Christian must persevere, fight against vice, and grow in virtue each day.

To delve deeper into this doctrine, I especially recommend The Way of Perfection and The Book of Her Life, in which the saint explains with admirable clarity the necessity of prayer and the difficulties of the spiritual journey. A collection of her works may be consulted in the Library of the Company of Saint Teresa of Jesus.

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