Saint Teresa of the Andes

Both my family and my husband’s family have long-depended upon the intercession of ‘the Theresas.’ My dad and his siblings all attended Saint Thérèse grade school. My husband’s family lineage may stem from the same line as the Little Flower, and my oldest chose Saint Teresa of Calcutta as her Confirmation saint a couple of years ago. My grandfather shared with me that he picked Thérèse as his intercessor while he was at war. When I asked him which one, he replied, “all of them.” 

Which, it turns out, is a lot. 

Perhaps a bit like being born a Kathryn in the ‘80’s—there are a lot of us too! It wasn’t until college that I stopped having to write my last initial behind my name to decipher myself from the sea of other Katies. I’ve since wondered if Saints ever experience that same anonymity when called only by their first names?

Lesser-known stories

Like many holy men and women, Saint Teresa of the Andes was introduced to me by way of Meg Hunter-Kilmer’s book Saints from Around the World. In her illustrated write-up, she describes Saint Teresa (whose given name was Juana Enriqueta Josephina de Los Sagrados Corazones Fernández Solar) as a pretty relatable young woman: someone who was playful, loved to be the life of the party, and sometimes got a little wild. On occasion she was even described as self-centered and hot-tempered.

Influenced by another Thérèse

Despite these tendencies, or because of them, Juanita gradually allowed Jesus to become more and more the center of her life. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (the Little Flower) died just three years before Juanita was born. Her writing had a lasting impact on the young Juana, as did receiving her First Communion. Upon reading Saint Thérèse’s autobiography, she realized that a life  most closely modeled on the Lord’s would call her from her selfish tendencies into loving others well. Those who have read her diary entries have noted a marked difference after this time in Juana’s spiritual writings.

When she was 18, she entered a Carmelite monastery near her home and was given the name Teresa, though her time as a discalced Carmelite was short. She died nearly one year after she had entered, possibly having contracted the Spanish flu. She is remembered for the letters she wrote about God’s love.

Larger impact

Teresa of the Andes was the first saint canonized from the country of Chile. She is the patroness of Santiago, young people, and the sick. Saint Teresa was also chosen to be among the ‘young witnesses’ during the Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment in 2018. These young, international men and women serve as inspiration to the wide variety of callings and gifts given to be used in the name of Jesus in the world. It is a happy coincidence and Providence that both Teresa of the Andes and Thérèse of Lisieux are represented on this list. 

Thank heaven for the witnesses we have been given, and those who are determined not to let their stories be lost to history or region. We need to be reminded of the breadth of the Mystical Body, the abundance of our gifts, and the variety of those who have responded to the call to love God so that we are equipped to bring our love of God into the world in our own particular time and place. 

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Prayer for surrender to the heart of Jesus

Only God can satisfy us. He is truth and unchangeable good. He is eternal love. Oh, my Jesus and my Mother, may I belong to Him forever. May nothing on earth claim my attention but the tabernacle. Preserve me pure for Yourself so that when I die I can say: how happy I am now that at last I can lose myself in the infinite Ocean of the Heart of Jesus, my adored Spouse.

Saint Teresa of Jesus Fernández Solar of the Andes (source)

St. Teresa of the Andes, pray for us!

*For further information, FORMED has put out a six episode mini-series about the life of St. Teresa of the Andes.