St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) and her brother, Rodrigo, loved to read about the martyrs. They marveled at the thought of how easy it was to be guaranteed of going to Heaven when so very many people - even Catholics - lose their soul when they die. They realized that by suffering so little and so quickly on this earth they would go straight to God and be blissfully happy with Him, their Blessed Mother Mary, and all the Saints and Holy Angels for all eternity. Eternity! These young warriors for Jesus would sit and think about eternity and how it never, never, never will end. They desired to be safely in Heaven with God more than anything else. Teresa and Rodrigo then made up their saying, "For ever and ever!", and would proclaim it at the top of their lungs!

One day, when Teresa was 7 and Rodrigo was 11, they both ran away from home to be martyred by the Moors (Moslems). Unfortunately, they had not gotten far from home when they ran into their uncle. Their uncle promptly took them both back home, and Teresa was blamed for the whole event.

But in the end she obtained what she desired so earnestly ...

She lived a life of martyrdom by striving to become a Saint - suffering the trials and crosses Jesus sends to purify and sanctify those who desire to love and obey Him with their whole mind, heart, body, and soul with all their strength.

But what about her deep concerns about her eternity? She was canonized by the Holy Catholic Church in 1622. So we know for certain that she is now safely in Heaven with her God that she loved so much.

And her eternal happiness will last "for ever and ever" ...