St. Teresa is one of the foremost writers on mental prayer, and her position among writers on mystical theology, Saint Teresa of Avila – her Quotes is unique. In all her writings on this subject she deals with her personal experiences, which a deep insight and analytical gifts enabled her to explain clearly. Her definition was used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “Contemplative prayer [oración mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.”

Throughout her writings, persistent metaphors provide a vivid illustration of the image of mystic prayer as watering a garden through her unforgettable Quotes:

Be gentle to all and stern with yourself. –Saint Teresa of Avila

The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too. –Saint Teresa of Avila

Our souls may lose their peace and even disturb other people’s, if we are always criticizing trivial actions – which often are not real defects at all, but we construe them wrongly through our ignorance of their motives. –Saint Teresa of Avila

God has been very good to me, for I never dwell upon anything wrong which a person has done, so as to remember it afterwards. If I do remember it, I always see some other virtue in that person. –Saint Teresa of Avila

We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can – namely, surrender our will and fulfill God’s will in us. –Saint Teresa of Avila

There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers. –Saint Teresa of Avila

Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds.
–Saint Teresa of Avila

Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.
–Saint Teresa of Avila

To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience.
–Saint Teresa of Avila

The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.
–Saint Teresa of Avila

For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.
–Saint Teresa of Avila

I know the power obedience has of making things easy which seem impossible.
–Saint Teresa of Avila

Don’t let your sins turn into bad habits.
–Saint Teresa of Avila

Anyone who truly loves God travels securely.
–Saint Teresa of Avila

God gave us faculties for our use; each of them will receive its proper reward. Then do not let us try to charm them to sleep, but permit them to do their work until divinely called to something higher.
–Saint Teresa of Avila

O my God, what must a soul be like when it is in this state! It longs to be all one tongue with which to praise the Lord. It utters a thousand pious follies, in a continuous endeavor to please Him who thus possesses it.
–Saint Teresa of Avila

Do you think it is only a little thing to possess a house from which lovely things can be seen?
–Saint Teresa of Avila

I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him.
–Saint Teresa of Avila