In March of 1622, Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Teresa of Avila, St. Isadore the Farmer, and Philip Neri were canonized. The natter in Rome among the Romans was that there were four Spaniards and a Saint. Teresa of Avila’s persistence in the face of challenge has been recounted by facts and legends. We know as facts that she faced enormous resistance in her project of reforming Carmelite convents throughout Spain. Often these convents were housing for women from wealthy families who did not want to incur the expense of a full dowry and sent younger daughters off to the convent. Some of these convents, with retinues for the wealthy sisters, hardly fit the model of Carmelite poverty. Not only was Teresa pushing against bad morals, but she also stood against the influence of wealthy families who meddled in the affairs of convent life. We often look to today’s saint for her insights on prayer and spirituality while neglecting how she never wavered in the goal of reform even in the face of big money. One story about the saint may not be true but it certainly matches her resolute nature. She was riding a mule across a flood swollen river when the saddle loosened, and she ended up under the donkey. The donkey took its time crossing the river and our saint nearly drowned. Upon arriving at the shore, she shouted to God: “Is this how you treat those who love you?” An interior voice answered: “Those that God loves, God tests.” She said in reply “No wonder so few people love you!” She was an exacting and demanding person who spent her life in reforming religious life and prayer to God, even if that prayer involved letting God know how she really felt at the moment.