DAUGHTER OF THE CHURCH TO DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
ST TERESA OF AVILA — A ROLE MODEL FOR WOMEN RELIGIOUS
Keywords:
Doctor of the Church, Motherhood, Nature and Grace, Womanhood, Teresa of Avila, TransformationAbstract
Life of St Teresa of Avila is an outstanding example for women religious today. This article shows that the incessant striving and a sheer perseverance of Teresa helped her to deepen her experience as daughter of the Church. Her determination motivated her journey as daughter to become the doctor of the Church. St Teresa’s exceptional awareness as daughter paved the way towards the apex of womanhood in her time and beyond. Women religious are called after her model to be the heart of the Church. Teresa’s life points towards the unique impact women religious could make in the Church and society through their special call and mission. She also proved that fortitude in Christ the Bridegroom makes possible the right blending of dissimilar stuffs together, such as nature and grace, human and divine, weakness and strength, etc.
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