I was in prayer when I suddenly became conscious of a presence beside me. It was an angel sent by God…
Saint Teresa of Avila

An Angel Sent By God
Topic: Life Beyond Death & the Spirit World
I was in prayer when I suddenly became conscious of a presence beside me. It was an angel sent by God, who instructed me in His ways and filled my soul with a sense of divine love..
Teresa of Avila, born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Dávila y Ahumada on March 28, 1515, in either Ávila or Gotarrendura, Spain, was a Carmelite nun, mystic, and religious reformer. Raised in a devout Catholic household, she was drawn to the lives of the saints and developed an early sense of spiritual longing. After her mother died when she was fourteen, she deepened her devotion, eventually entering the Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation at age twenty. There, amid periods of illness and inner conflict, she began to experience contemplative prayer and moments of religious ecstasy, shaped by her reading and desire for deeper union with God.
As Teresa’s interior life matured, she became concerned with the state of her religious community. She sought to renew the Carmelite Order by encouraging a return to simplicity, silence, and devotion. Together with Saint John of the Cross, she helped found the Discalced Carmelites, emphasizing a more focused, prayer-centered life. Though her reforms faced resistance, they gradually gained support and papal recognition. Despite poor health, Teresa traveled across Spain to establish new convents, grounding each one in her vision of contemplative discipline and spiritual integrity.
Teresa of Avila is also known for her writings, which explore the life of prayer and the soul’s movement toward God. In The Life of Teresa of Jesus, The Way of Perfection, and The Interior Castle, she shared her experiences with clarity and depth, offering practical guidance for those drawn to contemplative practice. Her language is direct, shaped by personal insight rather than theory. She died on October 4, 1582, in Alba de Tormes. Canonized in 1622 and named a Doctor of the Church in 1970, Teresa’s influence continues through her writings, her reform work, and the spiritual communities she helped form.
Teresa of Ávila. The Way of Perfection. Translated by E. Allison Peers, Image Books, 2004.

Saint Teresa of Avila
Theme: Angels
About This Teresa of Ávila Quotation [Commentary]
Teresa of Ávila’s words reveal her deep awareness of the unseen spiritual realities that accompany a life of prayer. She describes a moment of prayer when she becomes aware of an angelic presence beside her, sent by God to instruct and fill her soul with divine love. This experience is not an isolated event but a reminder that divine messengers are present in human lives, offering guidance and reassurance beyond ordinary perception.
In her writings, Teresa of Ávila emphasized the role of angels in spiritual growth. She viewed them as God’s helpers, offering support, especially in times of deep contemplation and inner struggle. To Teresa, angels were not distant or abstract but actively involved in guiding the soul toward a closer relationship with the divine. Her encounters affirm that God’s love reaches individuals through these celestial companions.
Teresa’s reflections encourage trust in the unseen ways spiritual help may come. Her experiences invite an openness to divine assistance and confidence in God’s constant presence. By sharing her encounters, she offers reassurance that God’s love is always near, extended through the presence of angels who guide and protect along the spiritual path.
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