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On 24th August 1562, in Avila, the first monastery of the Teresian Carmelite Reform, The Carmel of Saint Joseph was founded in Avila.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Saint Teresa of \u00c1vila inaugurated the reform of the Carmelite Order. It was the most authentic of all possible reforms because it began with the most valid of origins: a personal reform of her own life. She was not a crusader for reform, nor did she envision herself as a reformer: it was a role that was thrust upon her. But in the process of recasting her own life in the way she felt the Lord was leading her, she returned the Order to its original ideal. \u201cWe are of the race of those holy fathers of Mount Carmel,\u201d she stated emphatically [Cf. The Interior Castle, V.1.2.].<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A small group of nuns and visitors present for worship on the feast of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel on July 16, 1560, were discussing the obstacles to a life of prayer presented by the large number of nuns living in the monastery [of the Incarnation] and the visitors.<\/p>\n Mar\u00eda de Ocampo, a young relative of the saint and a celebrated beauty, suggested that someone should establish a monastery in which the life of the ancient hermits could be revived. In all seriousness, she offered her dowry for this. The next day Teresa told her trusted friend Do\u00f1a Guiomar de Ulloa (a young widow who like her led a life of prayer under the strict direction of Fr. Baltasar Alvarez) of this conversation. Do\u00f1a Guiomar enthusiastically took up the idea. But what was decisive was that the Lord himself was calling for the project.<\/p>\n \u201cHe assured me that he would be very well-served in a monastery I might found, that this house would become a star shedding the brightest light. God added that, even thought they had lost some of their earlier enthusiasm, the orders were nevertheless of great service to him. What would the world be if there were no more monasteries?\u201d [Cf.\u00a0The Book of Her Life, ch. 32, no. 11]<\/p>\n According to the will of the Lord,\u00a0the new house was to be consecrated to St. Joseph.<\/p>\n SAINT EDITH STEIN<\/strong><\/p>\n Love for Love: The life and works of St. Teresa of Jesus<\/em> On 24th August 1562, in Avila, the first monastery of the Teresian Carmelite Reform, The Carmel of Saint Joseph was founded in Avila.\u00a0 Saint Teresa of \u00c1vila inaugurated the reform of the Carmelite Order. It was the most authentic of all possible reforms because it began with the most valid of origins: a personal reform … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/flos.carmelmedia.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/3f548f4c-d61e-4b55-9fbd-b1b396869681-1.jpg\")
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\n12. St. Joseph\u2019s of Avila, the First Monastery of the Reform<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"