n every couple of weeks and fasted regularly, which was the ideal Carmelite way of life.After a year, Teresa became sick again and was taken back to Avila by her father to be treated. Her religious uncle gave her a prayer book by Francisco de Osuna, which inspired the reform of religious orders and to help lay people form a spiritual mentality. Teresa found this very interesting. She learned the importance of recollection and the possibility of opening her soul to a passive reception of God in the prayer of quiet. She tried to follow this with all her might. She became worse in her illness to the point of total paralysis. After a “fit”, Teresa was thought to be dead. It took three years for Teresa to recover from this illness.When she was well, she returned to the Carmelite convent and all of its distractions. Teresa was depressed and so didn’t feel she was worthy to speak to God intimately through mental prayer. This was a trying time for Teresa, and even found it difficult to perform the external practice of religion. These years, however, were important in that she learned from her lack of success to persevere, examine her conscience and get through the things that were keeping her from God. Her spiritual recovery was slow. She had God calling her on one side and the world on the other.After this period of depression, Teresa began to become aware of God, which brought about interior voices and visions. Saints Francis Borgia and Peter of Alcantara told Teresa to accept these voices and visions as if from God. Mary Magdalene came to her when she was meditating on Jesus Christ’s sufferings. From that day on, she stated that she improved in her spiritual life. Part of her conversion was to break away from human relationships and instead turn to God alone.Her idea of what an effective convent should be also changed during these years. Teresa felt that the Carmelite convent was far too large to be an...
