Teresa of Avila: Episode Two

The Saints

Teresa arrives at Our Lady of Grace boarding school, where she initially struggles with the quiet discipline but gradually finds spiritual grounding through mentorship and

Key takeaways

• Teresa is assigned Rosa as a roommate and guide at Our Lady of Grace School, where strict silence rules initially challenge her outgoing nature.
• Doña de Bresena mentors Teresa on prayer, noting that Teresa's deep but unspoken love for Jesus differs from the eloquent prayers of her peers.

Main topics

• boarding school discipline
• spiritual discernment and prayer

Notable quotes

"I feel so much love for Jesus that I'm almost afraid to speak prayers when I'm thinking of Him."

Conclusion

This episode traces Teresa's pivotal transition from a worldly teenager to a devoted seeker of

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:02) In the sophisticated Spanish city of Ávila, Teresa is torn between a superficial life of parties and false friends and her desire to know God. When her father sends her to boarding school, Teresa's outlook begins to change, but not before she's struck with a serious setback that may end her life. Speaker 1 (0:35) The Saints, Adventures of Faith and Courage. Teresa of Avila, Episode 2, Finding the Truth. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com. Speaker 7 (0:56) Ah, the buildings at this school are beautiful. And look at the gardens, Teresa. Those flowers. I hope you will like it here. Speaker 5 (1:04) The flowers are all right, I guess. Speaker 7 (1:07) The prior has told me the students take care of the flowers. Speaker 5 (1:10) What? I thought I was coming here to study. Do we have to scrub floors, too? Speaker 7 (1:15) We'll have to ask, hmm? Speaker 5 (1:17) Don't try to be funny, Papa. Speaker 7 (1:19) Ah, the portress has opened the door. Speaker 4 (1:23) Don Alonso, welcome. Speaker 4 (1:26) Teresa, we finally meet. I am Doña de Bresena. You'll be in my care while you're here at our Lady of Grace school. Speaker 7 (1:36) Gracias, Doña Maria. Isn't she kind, Teresa? Speaker 4 (1:39) Very kind. Let's go to the courtyard. Speaker 5 (1:42) The students are eager to meet you. I can hardly wait. Speaker 2 (1:48) Thank Speaker 4 (1:49) you. My family? She's not her family. She's so lucky. You'll Speaker 5 (1:55) be Speaker 4 (1:55) her guide? Ladies, your new classmate, Teresa, has arrived. Let's make her feel welcome. Rosa, come. Teresa, meet Rosa. She will be your guide and one of your three roommates. Four of us in one room? Our room Speaker 5 (2:14) is large and lovely. We share the space. And... The quiet. The quiet? Yes. To show one another respect and to keep it peaceful, we don't speak in our room. What an experience that will be. Ah, you're nervous, but you will grow to love it here. I promise. The time will pass so quickly, and you'll never want to leave. Speaker 5 (2:57) Keep in mind, this is my last week here at Our Lady of Grace School. You can't leave us, Teresa. My Speaker 3 (3:05) two Speaker 5 (3:05) years with you have been wonderful. Speaker 4 (3:08) But Speaker 5 (3:08) now, shh! Listen to the ending of my story. We have been guessing at how you will end it. Here it is. The king doesn't take the knight's lands away. Instead, he gives his princess daughter's hand in marriage to the knights. Why? Because the knights saved the king's army. Speaker 4 (3:30) I'm so sorry! Speaker 4 (3:37) Teresa, come in. Sit down. Thank you, Doña de Bresena. I can hardly believe your last term is almost over. You've done so well with your studies and your friendships. Everyone loves your stories in the refectory. Speaker 5 (3:54) Thank you. I do feel free and happy living here now. That brings me joy. Before I came here, I spent all