Prayer to Saint Teresa of Avila Patroness of Religious Women

Short Prayer to Saint Teresa of Avila

(from the Missionary Society of St. Columban)

Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You, always follow Your plans, and perfectly accomplish Your holy will. Grant that in all things, great and small, today and all the days of my life, I may do whatever You require of me. Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your grace, so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honor. May Your will be done in time and in eternity by me, in me, and through me. Amen.

St. Teresa of Avila is the patron saint of sick people, people in religious orders, lacemakers, laceworkers, those suffering from bodily ills or headaches, people who have lost parents, and those ridiculed for their piety. She is also considered the patron saint of Spain.

St. Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite nun in Spain, was a significant figure known for her deep relationship with God through prayer. She experienced apparitions of both the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and her writings on personal and contemplative prayer have profoundly influenced many. Despite suffering from various illnesses, including seizures and paralysis, she dedicated much of her life to founding new monasteries for the Discalced Carmelites and striving for improvements within her order. Her resilience and faith, even through chronic illness, made her an inspiring figure. She was also one of the first women to be recognized as a Doctor of the Church.

A common prayer attributed to St. Teresa of Avila expresses a desire for divine guidance and submission to God's will: "Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You, always follow Your plans, and perfectly accomplish Your Holy Will. Grant that in all things, great and small, today and all the days of my life, I may do whatever You require of me. Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your Grace, so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honour. May Your Will be done in time and in eternity by me, in me, and through me. Amen."

Novenas to St. Teresa of Avila often involve prayers for specific intentions, such as gaining the gift of prayer, increasing trust in God, discerning God's plan, loving Jesus more deeply, learning to listen to God, finding strength to pray during grief, fostering a consistent relationship with God, recognizing God's hand in daily life, and acknowledging answers to prayers.

OTHER PRAYER: "Wonderful daughter of Spain, you taught us to walk the way of Christian perfection, which is the way of the Cross. You inspired innumerable men and women by your writings as well as your conduct, deserving the title of Doctor of the Church. Ever faithful to Peter's successors, inspire fidelity to religious vows on the part of those who have taken them and make them ever true to their vocation. Amen."