Before St. Teresa of Avila entered a Carmelite convent, she was a lively young girl, who loved to gossip, wear fine clothes, and flirt with boys. Part of this was due to the influence of a relative, which she explains in her autobiography: [F]rom a relative whom we often had in the house I learned every kind of evil. This person was so frivolous in her conversation that my mother had tried very hard to prevent her from coming to the house, realizing what harm she might do me, but there were so many reasons for her coming that she was powerless. I became very fond of meeting this woman. I talked and gossiped with her frequently; she joined me in all my favorite pastimes; and she also introduced me to other pastimes and talked to me about all her conversations and vanities. This negative influence was difficult to manage and so her father devised Read More…

Why St. Teresa of Avila was sent to an Augustinian convent