ABSTRACT
Thus, an alternative reading, focused on her life, revealsanother side to Teresa of Avila, a selfless and active willingness to die in the service of God and others. In this essay I build upon the pioneering work of scholars such as Rosa Rossi and Teófanes Egido to examine the missionary aspirations of Teresa of Avila as well as her eventual articulation of an apostolic program open to other contemplative women.5
