A wonderful account of the life of a determined and indefatiguablable woman! Teresa's "ordinary human-ness" comes across clearly in her initial ambivalence at the idea of becoming a nun. However, once she makes the decision, Teresa commits herself wholeheartedly. It readily becomes apparent Teresa made the right choice, for soon God begins communicating directly with her...a mysticism which is to last throughout her life. The convent, though, has more of a social focus than a focus on God, and after experiencing two Divine encounters, Teresa finally sheds any and all ties she retained to the matieral world and embarks upon re-estalishing the strict, cloistered lifestyle of the hermits of Mt. Carmel. Thus, with the help of influential friends, including St. John of the Cross, Teresa undertook the great reformation of the Carmelite Order, ultimately founding 16 "Discalced" Carmelite communities throughout 1500s Spain. The book includes a map of Spain, with each of Teresa's foundations marked, helping to put into perspective the distances, as well as the rigors and dangers Teresa and her nuns faced in their grueling travels, as they established new communities. Teresa's selfless love for God and the heroic measures she undertook in serving His Will are inspiring and beautifully depicted.