St. John of Avila, teacher of St. Teresa of Jesus

Abstract

In this article it will be shown that St. John of Avila was the true teacher of St. Teresa´s life of prayer. This was via the Audi,filia, which it is highly likely that she read, as well as trough the books of Louis of Granada which contain both the doctrine of the Audi,filia and the teachings of St. John of Avila. The Venerable Louis was the great disciple of Saint John of Avila, and, at the same time, he was the great teacher of St. Teresa. It was Avila the Preacher who approved the Book of Life of St. Teresa in his letter number 158 of 1568, in which he gave her wise counsel for the future. In particular it will be demostrated how the most influential people in St. Teresa´s new life of prayer, which began in 1554, were disciples and friends of St. John of Avila. These were St. Francis of Borja, Baltasar Alvarez, Louis of Granada, St. Peter of Alcantara and very probably Mary Jesus of Yepes. This article opens a new avenue of research. Not only is St. John of Avila the «Golden Key» of the Spanish mystic, having approved the Book of Life of St. Teresa. He is also the teacher of teachers, and the teacher of St. Teresa of Jesus.