Quotes by Saint Teresa of Avila

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Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us. The important thing is not to think much but to love much and so do that which best stirs...

Saint Teresa of Avila

While the soul is in mortal sin, nothing can profit it; none of its good works merit an eternal reward, since they do not proceed from God as their first principle, and by Him alone is our virtue real virtue.

Saint Teresa of Avila

All blessings come to us through our Lord. He will teach us, for in beholding His life we find that He is the best example.

Saint Teresa of Avila

There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.

Saint Teresa of Avila

The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.

Saint Teresa of Avila

Don't let your sins turn into bad habits.

Saint Teresa of Avila

More tears are shed over answered prayers than unanswered ones.

Saint Teresa of Avila

If Christ Jesus dwells in a man as his friend and noble leader, that man can endure all things, for Christ helps and strengthens us and never abandons us. He is a true friend.

Saint Teresa of Avila

Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.

Saint Teresa of Avila

I thought of the soul as resembling a castle, formed of a single diamond or a very transparent crystal, and containing many rooms, just as in Heaven there are many mansions.

Saint Teresa of Avila

Do you think it is only a little thing to possess a house from which lovely things can be seen?

Saint Teresa of Avila

I don't know what heavy penance I would not have gladly undertaken rather than practice prayer.

Saint Teresa of Avila

I am more afraid of those who are terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself.

Saint Teresa of Avila

When the soul, through its own fault... becomes rooted in a pool of pitch-black, evil smelling water, it produces nothing but misery and filth.

Saint Teresa of Avila

A soul which gives itself to prayer, either much or little, should on no account be kept within narrow bounds.

Saint Teresa of Avila

Let us consider the glorious Saint Paul: it seems that no other name fell from his lips than that of Jesus, because the name of Jesus was fixed and embedded in his heart.

Saint Teresa of Avila

What friends or kindred can be so close and intimate as the powers of our soul, which, whether we will or no, must ever bear us company?

Saint Teresa of Avila

Reflect carefully on this, for it is so important that I can hardly lay too much stress on it. Fix your eyes on the Crucified and nothing else will be of much importance to you.

Saint Teresa of Avila

Those who give themselves to prayer should in a special manner have always a devotion to St. Joseph; for I know not how any man can think of the Queen of the angels, during the time that she suffered so much with the Infant Jesus, without giving than...

Saint Teresa of Avila

To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.

Saint Teresa of Avila