Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) recalled in her autobiography how she and a favorite brother were influenced by the lives of saints. As youths, they left home to go to the country of the Moors, later being intercepted by a family member. At the age of eighteen, Teresa, determined to serve God, decided to become a nun in the Carmelite monastery in Avila.

Teresa was quick to confess that she had found it difficult to pray or meditate, but she persevered in creating a discipline in which prayer would become a major rule for the rhythm of her life. Teresa details her commitment to prayer in her autobiography which was written at the command of her spiritual director of 1562. She distinguishes four degrees of prayer. In the first degree or stage, the soul applies itself to holy meditation. The second degree of prayer for Teresa is that of quiet, which is followed by the third degree of prayer, the repose of the soul. The fourth degree of prayer is distinguished by a more perfect union with God. She described this prayer of union as a kind of rapture that causes the loss of voluntary functioning. Her extensive writings of visions give imagery to these four distinct stages. For example of her spiritual discipline, read her book The Interior Castle.

On her window is a heart pierced by an arrow. A flaming arrow and two fleurs de lys are all symbols of her concentration on the passion of Jesus. In the circle are the traditional symbols of roses and lilies – the symbols of spiritual life well-watered in the garden of her soul.