God Is Love Saint Teresa Margaret: Her Life

St. Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart was born into a large devout family in Arezzo, Italy in 1747. From the earliest days of her childhood, Anna Maria was filled with a deep love of God, questioning the adults around her as to Who is God ? Already she was dissatisfied with answers given her. Only the contemplative life of a Carmelite nun could begin to quench her thirst to know and give herself completely to God. Her entire life was driven by the desire to return love for love. She entered the Carmelite convent in Florence at the age of 17, advanced rapidly in holiness, and died an extraordinary death at 22. Her spiritual director reflecting on her death remarked, She could not have lived very much longer, so great was the strength of the love of God in her. Though St. Teresa Margaret led a life of exquisite holiness and purity, it was also a life that is wholly imitable. In her were combined Martha and Mary as she served her community as infirmarian while reaching the heights of contemplation.