Saint of April - St Teresa of the Andes

Saint Teresa of Jesus of Los Andes was a Chilean nun who died at the age of 19. She was born in 1900 in Santiago, Chile. In 1914 she decided to consecrate herself to the Lord and to become a Discalced Carmelite. In May 1919 she entered the novitiate in Los Andes. Saint Teresa contracted typhus which caused her severe physical suffering and ultimately proved fatal. She accepted this with serenity and confidence in God’s will. She focused her days on prayer and self-sacrifice and she began an apostolate of letter writing in which she shared her thoughts on the spiritual life. She was certain that her mission to make God known and loved would continue in eternity. Although she still had six months left to complete her novitiate, because she was facing death,she was allowed to profess her vows a week before she died in April 1920. Saint Teresa was beatified in 1987 and canonised in 1993. She is the first Chilean saint. Her feast day is celebrated on 12 April.

Written by Paul Cavadino