A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Theresa
THERESA, of a noble Family, at Avila, in Spain; born 1514, died 1585.
When about six or seven years of age, she and her young brother formed a resolution of going into Africa, to seek martyrdom among the Moors; but an uncle stopped them in their flight. As she grew up, she employed herself in reading romances, and even composed some; but learning the futility of this study, began to read good authors, and to be very religious. She renounced her prospects in the world, and became a nun; but the rules of the convent being relaxed from their original austerity, Theresa was dissatisfied with them, and founded another in the same city, far more strict. She composed many religious works, which were esteemed excellent by those of the Catholic communion; and founded seventeen monasteries.