Two Teresas and One Elisa

“Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing, God is unchanging. Patience gains all; nothing is lacking to those who have God: God alone is sufficient.” St. Teresa of Avila

There are three Spanish women who lived 400 years apart, and they had a tremendous impact on my life. The first one is St. Teresa of Avila, also known as St. Teresa of Jesus, whose feast we celebrate today. The second one is my paternal grandmother who shares this saint’s name. And the third one is my maternal grandmother, Elisa, who passed away 27 years ago today.

I visited Avila many years ago as a little girl living in Spain. Honestly, my most vivid memory about that visit is the medieval wall that surrounds the city. I know that we visited the Cathedral and the Convent of St. Teresa, but sadly, I don’t remember. Hopefully, I will be able to return one day. In the meantime, I will tell you about this saint that was born there and whom I love so much, in part because she is the patron saint of Catholic writers, but also because I admire her writings and her life tremendously. She was born in 1515 and at the age of sixteen, her father sent her to a convent because he claimed she was out of control. In my mind, she was just a typical teenager who liked boys, fashion, and romance novels, but we must keep in mind that this was sixteenth-century Spain. At first, she hated the convent, but eventually, she began to enjoy it because she felt in love with God.

At the age of twenty, she entered the Carmelite Convent. She describes the first two decades in her autobiography as living a “lukewarm religiosity.” She writes about wanting a deeper spiritual life, but she struggled with being a nun and still maintaining a social life. In 1555, she had a radical experience which changed her life. She saw a statue of Christ being scourged at the pillar, and the sight of it stirred a deep devotion in her. From that day forward, she began to have miraculous encounters with the Divine. She saw Jesus, angels, demons, and the dead. She had visions of heaven and hell. She levitated and her best-known mystical experience was the transverberation (her heart was “pierced” by a divine “dart” during prayer). This was brought to life by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in his famous sculptural altarpiece the “Ecstasy of St. Teresa.” I was blessed to be able to see it in person when I visited the Basilica of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome.

St. Teresa’s writings, especially the “Way of Perfection” and “The Interior Castle,” have helped many people. She was canonized on March 22, 1622. In 1970, Pope St. Paul VI gave her the title Doctor of the Church. She died on October 15, 1582. Exactly 416 years later, on October 15, 1998, I would say goodbye to one of the most important women in my life, my dear maternal grandmother Elisa. Having been born in Spain herself, in a very strict family, she had a lot in common with St. Teresa, especially her love for fashion.

My grandmother will never be canonized like St. Teresa was, but she is definitely a saint in my book. Even though she never received a formal education, she had so much wisdom. She left Spain on a ship to Cuba when she was just fourteen years old. There she learned to sew, and eventually opened her own couture shop, making dresses for the high society women of Cuba, including then President Prio’s family. Her dresses were astonishing. She put together three fashion shows, and became a known name in Havana. Yet, she always remained humble. She was probably one of the most humble women that I have ever met. She took me to church every Sunday, and her words of wisdom resound in my mind to this day.

My paternal grandmother was named after St. Teresa of Avila. She was also born in Spain on November 1, 1907, the feast of All Saints Day. Sadly, I had to say goodbye to this grandmother when I left Cuba at the age of seven. She stayed behind, and for the next twenty years our communication would be just through letters. I clearly remember her words on the day I left, “Do not forget about us.” I never did. Her biggest wish was to see me one last time before she died. In 1989, her wish came true when she was able to come visit me. I had just had my daughter, so it was a difficult time because I had a one-year-old and a newborn to attend to. She came for three weeks, but only stayed two. She was very frail, and was suffering from vertigo. I did my best to make her stay as comfortable as possible, but she told me that she had accomplished what she most wanted in life, which was to see me. Knowing that I was happily married, and being able to meet my children, was enough for her, and therefore, she was ready to return to be with her husband and her only son, my father. That was the last time I saw her. She passed away on June 23, 1993.

St. Teresa of Avila inspires me to be a better writer and not to live a “lukewarm” faith. My grandmother, Elisa, taught me the value of hard work and humility. And my grandmother, Teresa, showed me that you should never give up on your dreams. May all three rest in peace.

St. Teresa of Avila, Abuela Elisa, and Abuela Teresa, pray for me.