THE almighty Word of God, when He had descended from the bosom of the Father to these lower regions in order to rescue us from the power of darkness, and when, the time of His dispensation being fulfilled, He was about to pass from this world to the Father, chose, for the spreading throughout the whole earth the Church of His elect, which He had purchased with His own Blood, and for instructing Her by the word of life, and for confounding the wisdom of the wise and destroying every height that exalted itself against God — He chose, I say, not many nobles, nor many wise, but the contemptible things of the world: men who, not in loftiness of speech, nor in the word of human wisdom, but in simplicity and truth, would fulfill the ministry to which they had been predestined from the days of eternity.

But in the generations that followed, when, according to the times preordained, He deigned to visit His people through His faithful servants, He very often took up the little and the humble, through whom He would bestow immense benefits upon the Catholic Church; to whom, according to His own word, He would reveal the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, which are hidden from the wise and prudent; and whom He would so illumine with the gifts of heavenly charisms that, by the example of every virtue and good work, they would nourish the Church, and by the glory of miracles would make Her renowned.

But in our own days He wrought great salvation by the hand of a woman; for He raised up in His Church, as it were, a new Deborah, the Virgin Teresa, who, after she had overcome her own flesh by the marvelous victory of perpetual virginity, the world by admirable humility, and all the inventions of the devil by many and very great virtues, striving after still higher things, and surpassing the strength of her sex by the greatness of her soul, girded her loins with strength, strengthened her arm, and arrayed armies of the strong, who would contend with spiritual weapons for the House of God of Hosts, for His Law, and for His commandments.

In order that she might accomplish so great a work, the Lord filled her abundantly with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and so illumined her with the treasures of His grace that her splendor shines like a star in the firmament in the House of God unto eternal ages.

We therefore judged it worthy and fitting that she whom God and His only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, had deigned to manifest to His people in the glory of miracles, as a bride adorned with a crown and beautified with His jewels, that We also, according to Our pastoral solicitude for the universal Church, over which, though Our merits in no way suffice, We preside, should by Apostolic authority decree to be honored and venerated as a Saint and Elect of God; so that all peoples may give thanks to the Lord in all His wonders, and all flesh may know that His mercies have not failed in our days.

For although, our sins demanding it, He visits us with the rod of His indignation, nevertheless in His anger He does not withhold His mercies; since, in our afflictions, He fortifies us with new protections and multiplies His friends, who by the suffrages of their merits and intercessions may protect and defend His Church.

And so, that all the faithful of Christ may understand how abundantly God has poured forth His Spirit upon His handmaid, and that devotion toward her may therefore increase day by day, We have thought fit to set forth in these Letters certain of her more outstanding virtues, and some of the great things which the Lord has worked by her hand.

Teresa was born at Ávila, in the Kingdom of Castile, in the year of our salvation 1515, of parents who, as they were illustrious in lineage, were also distinguished for integrity of life. Educated by them in the fear of the Lord, she gave, while still of very tender age, an admirable sign of her future holiness.

For when she read through the acts of the holy martyrs, her heart was so enkindled within her by the fire of the Holy Spirit that, together with her brother, who was himself also still a child, she fled from home, intending to cross over into Africa, there to pour out her blood and give her life in testimony to Jesus Christ. But, having been brought back home by her uncle, who met them on the way, she lamented with continual tears that the best lot had been taken from her, and compensated for her burning desire for martyrdom by almsgiving and other good works.

When she had reached the twentieth year of her age, she espoused herself wholly to Christ; and, having undertaken the vocation to which He had called her, betook herself to the nuns of Saint Mary of Mount Carmel, of the Mitigated Order, so that, planted in the house of the Lord, she might flourish in the courts of the house of our God.

Yet after making profession in that monastery she was afflicted for eighteen years with very grave illnesses and, besides these, various temptations, and was refreshed by no heavenly consolations. Nevertheless, with the Lord helping her, she bore all things so unconquerably that the trial of her faith, more precious than gold which is tried by fire, was found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

And since, for the raising up of the lofty building of Christian virtues, the foundation of faith had first to be laid, Teresa placed this foundation so firmly and unshakenly that, according to the word of the Lord, she is to be compared to the wise man who built his house upon rock. For she believed and venerated the sacrosanct Sacraments of the Church and the other dogmas of the Catholic religion with such firmness that, as she herself often testified, she could have no greater certainty about anything whatsoever.

Enlightened by this lamp of faith, she beheld with the eyes of her mind the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist so clearly that she declared there was nothing in which she envied the blessedness of those who had seen the Lord with bodily eyes.

She had placed such great and living hope in the Lord that she continually lamented being kept so long in this present mortal life, which hindered her from being always with the Lord. Nor was it rare that, while pondering in her heart the joys of the heavenly fatherland, she went out of herself in spirit and, though still in the body, was caught up to the enjoyment of them.

But among Teresa’s other virtues, the love of God shone forth especially. This love burned so ardently in her heart that her confessors admired and praised Teresa’s charity as proper not to a human being, but to a Cherub. Our Lord Jesus Christ also wonderfully increased this love by many visions and revelations. For on one occasion, giving her His right hand and showing her the nail, He adopted her as His spouse, and deigned to address her with these words: “Henceforth, as a true spouse, thou shalt be zealous for My honor; now I am wholly thine, and thou art wholly Mine.” And on another occasion she saw an Angel piercing her innermost heart with a fiery dart. 

From these heavenly gifts, the flame of divine love burned so fiercely in her heart that, taught by God, she made that most arduous vow: always to do whatever she understood to be more perfect and more conducive to the greater glory of God. Moreover, after death she manifested to a certain nun in a vision that she had departed this life not by the force of disease, but from the intolerable burning of divine love.

How greatly she loved her neighbor with perpetual charity was made manifest by many proofs, but especially by the burning desire with which she yearned for the salvation of souls. For she bewailed with continual tears the darkness of infidels and heretics; and for their enlightenment she not only poured forth continual prayers to God, but also offered fasts, scourgings, and other mortifications of the flesh.

The holy Virgin also resolved in her heart to let no day pass without some work of charity; and in this too God gave her assistance. For, by His gracious providence, there was never lacking to her an occasion for the exercise of charity.

She also wonderfully imitated Our Lord Jesus Christ in the love of enemies. For although she suffered great persecutions and adversities, nevertheless she loved those who persecuted her and prayed for those who hated her. Indeed, the losses and offenses which she endured supplied fuel for her love and charity, such that men of sound judgement were accustomed to say that whoever wished to be loved by Teresa ought to afflict her with loss or injury.

The vows which she had vowed to God in religious profession she fulfilled with the greatest care and diligence. For not only did she perform all exterior acts according to the judgment of her superiors, with the greatest humility of spirit, but she also firmly resolved in her heart to subject even all her thoughts to their will. Of this, too, she left remarkable examples.

For once, when Our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to her, as He often did, she, at the command of her confessors, who suspected that she was being deceived by the angel of darkness, humbly mocked and despised Him; but not without a great reward for so profound an obedience. Moreover, in order to obey her confessor, she cast into the flames a book which she had written on the Canticle of Canticles, and which was filled with remarkable piety. Thus she used to say that, in discerning visions and revelations, she could be deceived, but that in rendering obedience to superiors, she could not be deceived.

She loved poverty so greatly that she not only obtained her livelihood by the labor of her own hands, but also, if she saw any nun clothed in poorer garments, would immediately exchange her own for hers. And if at any time necessary things were lacking to her, she rejoiced and exulted exceedingly, and gave thanks to God, as though she had obtained some extraordinary favor.

But among the other virtues with which, as a bride, she was adorned by God, and in which she wonderfully excelled, most perfect chastity shone forth. She cultivated this virtue with such excellence that she not only persevered until death in the resolution, conceived from childhood, of preserving her virginity, but also preserved an angelic purity of body and heart, free from every stain.

These remarkable virtues she adorned with wonderful humility of heart. For as her soul was daily enriched with divine charisms, she often cried out to the Lord, begging Him to set a limit to His benefits toward her, and not so quickly to forget her great crimes. She thirsted most ardently for insults and mockeries, and abhorred not only human honors, but even being known by men.

The unconquerable patience of this holy Virgin is attested by the words she often cried out to the Lord: “Lord, either to suffer or to die.”

Besides all these gifts of divine beneficence, with which the Almighty willed His beloved one to be adorned as with precious jewels, He also abundantly enriched her with other graces and heavenly favors. For He filled her with the spirit of understanding, so that she might not only leave examples of good works in the Church of God, but also water that Church with showers of celestial wisdom, by publishing books on mystical theology and other little works filled with great piety, from which writings the minds of the faithful receive most abundant fruit and are greatly stirred up to desire the heavenly fatherland.

Instructed and enlightened by these heavenly gifts, she undertook a work very great indeed, and most difficult for anyone, yet exceedingly useful and profitable to the Church of Christ. For she began the reform of the Carmelite Order, and accomplished it excellently not only among women, but also among men, founding monasteries of both men and women not only throughout all Spain, but also in other parts of the Christian world. She did this without money and without revenues, relying upon the mercy of God alone; and not merely destitute of all human helps, but very often with the princes and powers of the world opposing and contradicting her. Nevertheless, the Lord confirming His work, these foundations took root, received increase, and finally brought forth abundant fruit in the House of God.

While Teresa was still living on earth, God made her great virtues manifest by very many miracles; and of these, We have thought fit to include some in these present Letters.

When there was a very great scarcity of grain in the Diocese of Cuenca, and in the monastery of Villanueva de la Jara there was scarcely enough flour to feed eighteen nuns for one entire month, Almighty God, who nourishes those who hope in Him, caused it, by the merits and intercession of this holy Virgin, to abound so greatly that, although loaves were made from it in abundance for the refreshment of the handmaids of God for six months, nevertheless it was never diminished until the new crops came in.

Anna of the Trinity, a nun of the convent of Medina del Campo, was afflicted with a severe erysipelas on her face and with fever. Teresa first spoke kindly to her, then lightly touched the injured parts and said: “Be of good courage, daughter. God, as I hope, will free thee from this illness.” And immediately the fever and every sickness departed from her.

Alberta, prioress of the same monastery, was suffering from pleurisy and fever, not without danger to her life. But the holy Virgin Teresa, having touched the side which was oppressed by the sickness, declared that she was well and commanded her to rise. Perfectly healed, she immediately leapt from her bed, praising God.

At last, when the time approached for her to receive from the hand of God the crown of beauty, in return for so many labors endured for the divine honor and so many good works accomplished for the benefit of the Church, she lay sick with a grave illness at Alba. Throughout the whole course of her infirmity, she had frequent and altogether admirable conversations with the sisters concerning divine charity, often giving thanks to God that He had joined her to the Catholic Church, and commending poverty and due obedience to superiors as the chief goods. Then, having received most humbly, and with a charity entirely celestial, the sacred Viaticum of her pilgrimage and the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, and holding in her hand an image of Christ Crucified, she flew away to the heavenly fatherland.

God manifested by many signs how sublime a degree of glory He had bestowed upon Teresa in heaven. For many religious nuns, devout and fearing God, beheld the beauty of her glory. One saw a multitude of heavenly lights above the roof of the church, in the choir, and over the room where she lay dying. Another saw Christ the Lord, shining with great splendor and surrounded by a vast throng of Angels, standing beside her bed. Another saw many persons clothed in white garments entering her cell and gathered around her bed. Yet another, at the very moment of her passing, saw a white dove flying from her mouth into heaven. And another saw a crystalline splendor passing out through the window.

Moreover, a certain tree near her room, enclosed by lime and masonry and long since dried up, suddenly appeared laden with flowers at the very hour of her passing, contrary to every reckoning of season and nature. Her lifeless body appeared most beautiful, not contracted by any wrinkle, and adorned with a wondrous whiteness; and, together with the garments and linens which she had used while sick, it breathed forth a marvelous fragrance, to the astonishment of all.

Many great works also, which God performed through the merits of His handmaid, made her passage into Paradise an occasion of joy. For a certain nun, who had long suffered from weakness of the head and eyes, took the hand of the dead Virgin and applied it to her head and eyes, and immediately recovered. Another likewise, after kissing her feet, recovered the sense of smell which she had lost, and perceived the fragrance of the ointments with which her most sacred body had been perfumed by the Lord.

Her body, without any medicinal treatment whatsoever, was enclosed in a wooden coffin and buried in a grave dug deep into the earth, the pit being filled up with great stones and lime. But from her sepulcher there came forth so great and marvelous a fragrance that it was decreed that her sacred body should be exhumed. It was found wholly intact, incorrupt, and flexible, as though it had only recently been buried, and was surrounded with a fragrant liquid, which even to the present day continually exudes from it, God bearing witness by this perpetual miracle to the sanctity of His handmaid.

The former garments having decayed, the body was clothed in other garments, enclosed in a new coffin, and laid again in the same place. Three years later, when the tomb was opened once more so that her sacred body might be carried to Ávila, and when her body was thereafter frequently inspected by order of the Apostolic Delegates, it always appeared incorrupt and pliable, suffused with the same fragrance and liquid.

In the course of time, God also manifested His glory to men by the frequent benefits granted, through the intercession of His handmaid, to those who faithfully commended themselves to her prayers.

A certain four-year-old boy was so contracted and twisted that he could neither stand upon his feet nor, when lying down, move his body. Since this infirmity had afflicted him from birth and caused him no sensation of pain, it seemed wholly incurable. But when, for nine days, he had been brought to the room in which the holy Virgin had lived, he felt strength entering into him; and suddenly, healthy and strong, and walking on his own feet, he began, to the astonishment of all, to proclaim that he had obtained perfect health from Mother Teresa of Jesus.

Anna of St. Michael, a nun, was tormented for two years by most cruel pains, three cancers so afflicting her breast that she was not only deprived of sleep, but could neither bend her neck nor raise her arms. Yet when she had placed a small particle of the relics of St. Teresa upon her breast, and with her whole heart commended herself to her patronage, not only did every wound vanish from her body, but in a moment she was also freed from another infirmity which she had long suffered in her heart.

Francis Perez, rector of a parish church, was so afflicted by an abscess which had settled in the breastbone, that, his arm also being contracted, he was prevented for five months from celebrating the most holy Sacrifice of the Mass. When human remedies failed, he fled to divine ones; and, lifting his eyes to the mountain of God, he obtained health. For, applying to his breast a letter written by the hand of the Virgin Teresa, he obtained healing of that part. And afterward, when he had visited the tomb of the Virgin, and had applied her arm, which is preserved at Alba, to his own arm, which was still contracted, he experienced divine power there also, and perfect health was restored to him.

John de Leyva was so afflicted by a great disease of the throat that almost every passage for breathing was closed, and already, near death, he was breathing his last. Then he applied to the place of the disease, with great confidence, a cloth which had belonged to St. Teresa. After falling asleep and waking a short time later, he suddenly cried out, now healed, that he had been cured by the merits of Blessed Teresa.

Thus, when the sanctity of Teresa was already being celebrated throughout all peoples and nations, and her name was held in great honor among the faithful of Christ, the Lord working through her intercession so many marvels, which day by day increased together with her veneration, processes were drawn up under ordinary authority in many parts of Spain and transmitted to this Holy See. And when Philip III, that Catholic King of Spain of illustrious memory, was earnestly pursuing the matter, and the business had been carefully discussed both in the Sacred Congregation of Rites and in the Rota, Paul V, Our predecessor of happy memory, granted that in her honor the Divine Office might be celebrated throughout the whole Order of the Carmelite Friars as of a blessed Virgin.

And when King Philip again petitioned Our Predecessor for the canonization of the Blessed Virgin Teresa, Paul V once more committed the matter to the Cardinals of the Sacred Congregation of Rites. They decreed that new processes should be drawn up by Apostolic authority, and, by the same authority, deputed Bernard Cardinal de Rojas, Archbishop of Toledo, of good memory, together with Our Venerable Brothers, the Bishops of Ávila and Salamanca, to carry out this duty.

When these had diligently carried out the business entrusted to them, they transmitted all the acts to the same Paul V, Our predecessor. He gave command to three Auditors of Causes of the Apostolic Palace — Francis, Archbishop of Damascus, Lieutenant, now Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church; John Baptist Coccino, Dean; and Alphonsus Manzanedo — that they should examine the said acts with the greatest diligence, and report to him what their judgment was.

After they had weighed all things accurately, as the greatness of the matter required, they reported to the same Paul V, Our predecessor, that the holiness of life and the miracles of the Blessed Virgin Teresa were fully proved; that all things were abundantly established which are required by the sacred canons for her canonization; and that it was possible to proceed further.

And so that the matter might be carried through with that maturity which so great a business demanded, the same Paul ordered Our beloved sons, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church appointed over Sacred Rites, to inspect the aforesaid processes again with the greatest diligence, and to take accurate cognizance of the whole cause.

But when the same Paul had completed the way of his human pilgrimage, and We — although by no merits of Our own — had been called, by the sole condescension of divine grace, to the governance of the Church, We judged that it pertained to the increase of divine honor and to the benefit of Holy Church that this business should be advanced. 

We also considered that it would greatly help to lighten the calamity of the present times if the devotion of Christ’s faithful toward the saints and elect of God, who would intercede for us in such great necessities, were increased.

We therefore commanded the aforesaid Cardinals to execute as soon as possible what had been enjoined upon them by Our predecessor. And when they had completed this with the diligence that was fitting, and had all unanimously judged in favor of the canonization of the holy Virgin, Our venerable brother Francis Maria, Bishop of Porto, Cardinal del Monte, set forth before Us in Our Consistory the summary of the whole process, as well as his own judgment and that of his colleagues. And when these things had been heard, the other Cardinals who were present declared by common vote that the cause should proceed further.

Therefore, when in a public Consistory Our beloved son Julius Zambeccarius, Advocate of Our Consistorial Court, had pleaded for her canonization, and, in the name of Our most dear son in Christ, Philip, Catholic King of the Spains, had humbly begged that We would deign to proceed with the canonization, We answered that We would consult concerning so great a matter Our venerable brothers, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, and the Bishops present in the Curia.

And meanwhile We earnestly exhorted the Cardinals and Bishops present, in the tender mercy of Christ, that, persevering in prayer, and humbling their souls before God together with Us in fasts and alms, they should beg of God, the Father of lights, that from on high He would send forth upon Us His light and His truth, which might lead Us to know and accomplish His will and good pleasure.

Accordingly, in the semi-public Consistory subsequently held, there were summoned not only the Cardinals, but also the Patriarchs, Archbishops, and Bishops then present in Our Curia. Our Notaries and those of the Apostolic See were also present, together with the Auditors of Causes of the Sacred Apostolic Palace.

And after We had recalled many things concerning the outstanding holiness of the handmaid of God, the frequency and renown of her miracles, and the devotion shown toward her by peoples throughout all Christian nations, there were also set forth the petitions presented to Us, not only in the name of the greatest kings, but also in that of Our most dear son in Christ, Ferdinand, King of the Romans and Emperor-elect, and of many other Christian princes. Then all, with one accord and one voice, blessing God who honors His friends, judged that Blessed Teresa should be canonized and enrolled among the holy Virgins.

Having heard the consent of all these, We exulted in the Lord with the inmost affection of Our heart, and rejoiced in His salvation, giving thanks to God and to His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, because He had mercifully looked upon His Church and had decreed to adorn her with so great a glory. We then announced the day appointed for the canonization, and admonished those same brothers and sons of Ours to persevere in prayer and almsgiving, so that the splendor of the Lord Our God might be upon Us in the carrying out of so great a work, and that He might direct the work of Our hands to the accomplishment of His will.

At last, today, after everything required by the sacred Constitutions and the custom of the Roman Church had been completed, We assembled in the most sacred Basilica of the Prince of the Apostles, together with Our Venerable Brothers, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, as well as the Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Prelates of the Roman Curia, Our officials and household, the secular and regular clergy, and a very great multitude of the people.

There, the petitions for the decree of canonization were again presented in the name of Our same most dear son in Christ, Philip, the Catholic King. They were presented by Our beloved son Ludovico Ludovisi, Cardinal of the title of Saint Mary in Transpontina and Our nephew according to the flesh, through the aforesaid Advocate Julius.

After the sacred prayers and litanies had been sung, and the grace of the Holy Spirit humbly implored, for the honor of the Holy and Undivided Trinity and the exaltation of the Catholic faith, by the authority of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, of the blessed Apostles, and Our own, with the counsel and unanimous consent of Our Venerable Brothers, the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, and of the Patriarchs, Archbishops, and Bishops present in the Roman Curia, We defined Teresa, Virgin of Ávila, of blessed memory, concerning whose holiness of life, sincerity of faith, and excellence of miracles there was and is full certainty, to be a Saint. And We decreed that she should be enrolled in the catalogue of holy Virgins, even as, by the tenor of these present Letters, We define, decree, and enroll her; and We have enjoined and do enjoin all the faithful of Christ to honor and venerate her as truly a Saint.

We decree that churches and altars may be built and consecrated in her honor throughout the universal Church, in which sacrifices may be offered to God; and that each year, on the fifth day of October, the day on which she was translated to heavenly glory, her Office may be celebrated as that of a holy Virgin, according to the prescription of the Roman Breviary.

And by the same authority, to all the faithful of Christ, truly penitent and confessed, who each year on the same feast day shall visit the sepulcher in which her body rests, We mercifully grant and remit in the Lord one year and one forty-day period of the penances enjoined upon them or otherwise owed; and to those who shall do so within the octave of the same feast, forty days.

Finally, after giving thanks to God for having deigned to illumine His Church with this distinguished and new light, and after the solemn prayer appointed for holy Virgins had been sung in honor of St. Teresa, We celebrated Mass at the altar of the Prince of the Apostles, with a commemoration of the same holy Virgin, and to all the faithful of Christ then present We granted a plenary indulgence for all their sins.

It is fitting, therefore, that for so great a benefit we should all, with all humility, bless and glorify Him to Whom all blessing, honor, glory, and power are due forever and ever; beseeching Him with continual prayers that, through the intercession of His elect one, He may turn His face away from our sins, have mercy on us, look upon us, show us the light of His mercies, and send His fear upon the nations that have not known Him, so that they may know that there is no other God but our God.

Moreover, since it would be difficult for these present Letters to be carried to each place where they may be needed, We will that the same credit be given everywhere to copies of them, even printed copies, provided they are signed by a public Notary and sealed by some person constituted in ecclesiastical dignity, as would be given to these present Letters themselves if they were produced and shown.

Let no man, therefore, be permitted to infringe this page of Our definition, decree, enrollment, mandate, statute, relaxation, and will, or with rash daring to go against it. But if anyone shall presume to attempt this, let him know that he will incur the indignation of Almighty God, and of His blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.

Given at Rome, at Saint Peter’s, in the year of the Incarnation of Our Lord 1621, on the twelfth day of March, in the second year of Our Pontificate.