Saint Teresa of Ávila was a 16th-century Catholic nun and mystic. She is known for her inspired spiritual writings and for founding numerous convents across Spain. In her books, letters, and poems, she described the asceticism and contemplation that she practiced alongside her fellow nuns. She believed love was a divine force that imbued earthly life with meaning and value. She wrote, “Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle and melt the soul.”