1515 - March 28 - Teresa de Ahumada born in
Gotarrendura (mother's farm - near Avila)
1522 - Attempts to run away with brother
Rodrigo to the land of the Moors to
become a martyr of the church
1531 - Enters Augustinian convent, Santa Maria
de Gracia
1532 - Falls ill - returns home to recover
1535 - Runs away (against father's will) to a Carmelite convent -
Encarnacion de Avila
1536 - Religious dowry is signed (October 31); she wears are
Carmelite habit (November 2)
1537 - Professes her vows as a Carmelite nun
1538 - Falls ill - leaves convent and travels to Becedas
where she is treated by a healer - to no avail - her
sickness only worsens
1539 - Returns to Avila (father's house) - is in a coma for four
days (preparations for burial undertaken)
- Awakes dramatically, and although in much pain and
paralyzed she returns to the convenant and spends
the next three years in the infirmary
1542 - She regains full use of her limbs and attributed her healing
to San Jose (St. Joseph)
1542-1554 - Time of spiritual struggle and growth for Teresa -
she describes it as a time of "wasting"
1554 - During Lent she experiences a 'radical' conversion
before a statue of the suffering Christ
1560 - She receives the grace of transverberation (spiritual
piercing of the heart)
- She begins to write the story of her life - Life
- She begins to discuss with friends and colleagues her
vision for reforming the monastic life
1562 - Pope Pius IV grants her permission to found San Jose
de Avila (St. Joseph)
- Convent is dedicated on August 24, 1562
1562-1566 - Teresa writes the constitutions for San Jose de
Avila and begins to write The Way of Perfection
- She also writes her Meditations on the Song of
Songs
1567 - After receiving permission to found other convents
she founds one in Medina del Campo (August 15)
1568 - Founds convent in Malagon (April)
- Founds convent in Valladolid (August 15)
- Reformed monastery for friars in Duruelo is founded
1569 - Founds convent in Toledo (May 14)
- Founds convent in Pastrana (June 28)
- Founds reformed monastery in Pastrana (July 13)
1570 - Founds convent in Salamanca (November 1)
1571 - Founds reformed monastery in Alba de Tornmes
with Juan de la Cruz (January 25)
- July 13 Teresa renounces the
Calced rule
- Took over as prioress (against her wishes) of the
Encarnacion de Avila and put in charge of the
Salamanca
convent
- Teresa invites Juan de la Cruz to become chaplain at
Encarnacion de Avila
1572 - Teresa receives the grace of spiritual marriage
1573 - Teresa begins writing Foundations
1574 - Along with Juan de la Cruz, Teresa founds the Segovia
monastery (March)
1575 - Founds the convent in Beas (February)
- Meets Jeronimo Gracian who becomes her confidant and
best friend
- Gracian sends Teresa to found the monastery in
Seville (May)
- December - Teresa is denounced to the Inquisition (by a
woman who had been expelled form the convent
in Seville)
1576-1579 - Persecution of Teresa's reform movement continued
- Teresa continues writing Foundations
- Teresa writes her magnificent The Interior Castle
1580 - Teresa falls ill to influenza - almost dies
- Founds convents in Villanueva de la Jara and Palencia
- An offical papl brief was issued which declared the
Discalced Reform 'legal'
1581 - New constitutions formed - Gracian becomes the first
provincial
- Teresa founds convent in Soria
- Teresa begins founding of convent in Burgos
- Juan de la Cruz makes the foundations in Granada
1582 - Reaches Alba de Tormes (September 20)
- Announces her imminent death (September 29)
- Receives the Sacrament of Extreme Unction & last
confession (October 3)
- Teresa dies in the arms of Ana de San Bartholome
(October 4)
1970 - Declared a Doctor of the Church(September 27)
