St. Teresa of Avila

Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Dávila y Ahumada came from a family of Jews who converted to Catholicism. St. Teresa was canonized in 1622.

The Mass marked the 400th anniversary of the canonizations of the Jesuit Sts. Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, as well as Sts. Isidore of Madrid; Teresa of Avila, founder of the Discalced Carmelites; and Philip Neri, founder of the Oratorians.

At a ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica March 12, 1622, Pope Gregory XV formally recognized the holiness of Sts. Teresa of Avila, Ignatius of Loyola, Isidore of Madrid (also known as Isidore the Farmer), Francis Xavier and Philip Neri.

In a 2021 video message marking the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Teresa as a doctor of the church, Pope Francis said the Spanish saint is an example for all Christians on the importance and need of prayer.

With Pope Francis having declared this the Year of St. Joseph through Dec. 8, fresh interest has been generated in the foster father of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit never disappoints. It brings the right person at the right time, and I never have to walk alone.

Take the quiz about two saints with feast days in October.

Edith Stein, who eventually became Carmelite Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, is not well known as saints go but is becoming better known as a fascinating figure of 20th-century Catholicism through books like this one.