When did you enter the school of the Augustinian Sisters?

When I was 16, my Father. being afraid that I would surrender myself to the vanities of the society of that time, decided to send me to this School, for me to receive there the good education and formation that my Mother could not give me anymore.

Then your Father wanted you to be a religious?

No, on the contrary! When I was 20, I decided to choose the religious life, and my Father denied me his permission, and this forced me to run away from home, in the dawn of November, 2nd, 1535, to enter the Convent of the Encarnation in Avila.

How were your first times as a Carmelite?

As it is known, in this convent lived more than a hundred and fifty nuns; it was in this atmosphere that I started my noviciate, precisely one year after I entered, and I made my Profession on November, 3rd, 1537. It was a time that I lived with much fervor and joy, until I became sick... My Father took me to Bacedas, to be healed, but I came back to Avila even worse!

Is it true that you were considered dead for three days?

It seems to be incredible, but it is true! They even put wax in my eyes, like they used to do to the dead. My situation was serious, and the doctors said my life was lost. As I saw myself paralised, being so young, and there was no hope with the doctors here on earth, I appealed to Heaven, to heal me, as I wanted my health, though I suffered with joy my illness. I sometimes thought that, if I was in good health to condemn myself, I would better be like that. Nevertheless, I thought that I would serve better the Lord if I would be healthy. So, I took St. Joseph as my advocate and I relied upon Him. I saw very clearly that, in this need, this Father of mine took me away from it in a better way that of the one I was asking him for...Though I was still paralised for three more years, and always more or less sick, what is this compared to the joy of continuing to serve the Lord!

During the trip to Bacedas to get healed, something very important happened...

Yes, my uncle gave me the book "the third alphabet", that teached how to practice recollection prayer; I was always a great admirer of books, but this one I devoured this one with a especial preference, and I can say that it influenced a lot my spirituality and my future decisions. Another important event was the death of my Father, in 1543. I went to assist him for a few days, and I met there Fr. Barrón, O.P., who helped me to come back to practise prayer and the Sacraments, from which I was a little distracted.