Teresa decided to enter the religious life at the age of 20 after reading the works of St. Jerome, believing the vocation to be the safest path to salvation for herself.
For her first 20 years in the convent, Teresa, in her own words, lived a mediocre prayer life. She said she had tried mental prayer but discontinued it because she could not tear herself away from the pettiness and worldliness of her conversations and desires, such as her longing to be held in good esteem by others.
However, an intense prayer experience before an image of Christ crucified helped her renounce her worldly attachments and soon, God began visiting her through visions.