Scholars Program patron saint - St. Teresa of Ávila

The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary trace their roots to the charism of St. Alphonsus Ligouri, the founder of the Redemptorist order of priests.  He was greatly influenced by the life and writings of St. Teresa of Ávila.1  Born in Spain in 1515, Teresa lived a “normal teenage life” but went on to become a prominent spiritual leader during the Counter-Reformation.  Her spirituality surrounding the importance of simple prayer was passed down through St. Alphonsus to the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.1  For her writings and teachings on the power of prayer, St. Teresa was declared a Doctor of the Church, one of only four women with this designation.  It is most appropriate for our most accomplished students to strive to aspire to all that St. Teresa of Ávila represented.

Sources:

1 Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM). (2023). Patrons. Retrieved from https://ihmimmaculata.org/ihm-spirituality/patrons/.

Catholic Online. (2023). St. Teresa of Avila. Retrieved from https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=208.