Teresa de Cepeda y Fuentes

Teresa de Cepeda y Fuentes portrayed as a child

Teresa de Ahumada (née Teresa de Cepeda y Fuentes; nickname, Teresita; also known as Teresa la Quiteña; Quito, October 25, 1566 - Ávila, September 9, 1610) was an Ecuadorian-born Spanish Discalced Carmelite nun who was born in the Real Audiencia of Quito and lived in Spain at the end of the 16th century and beginning of the 17th century. She was one of the most prominent people in the family of Saint Teresa of Ávila (also known as Teresa of Jesus) to be born in the Americas.

Early life

Her father was Lorenzo de Cepeda and her mother was Juana de Fuentes y Espinosa. The family name by which Teresa was referred to was "Teresa de Ahumada", as her father, Lorenzo, had determined in his will that she should be called. She was also often called "Teresita", alluding to her aunt Saint Teresa of Jesus. Her childhood was marked by the death of her mother a year after her birth on November 14, 1567. During her first nine years she lived in Quito. For this reason, to differentiate her from her aunt, she was called Teresa la Quiteña.

Lorenzo, Teresita's father, had arrived in Peru with the Vaca de Castro expedition in 1540. Nine years later he would arrive at the Royal Audience of Quito and on January 1, 1550 he was named councilor of the town council and also treasurer of the Royal Treasury. As an official he held the positions of lieutenant governor and captain general. He also served as ordinary mayor of the city.

Lorenzo and Juana were married on May 18, 1556. Juana was born in Trujillo, Perú. Juana's parents were Francisco Antonio de Fuentes y Guzmán and Bárbola Espinosa. The latter was born from an illegitimate union of LicenciadoGaspar de Espinosa, judge of Santo Domingo and first governor of Panama, with an indigenous woman. Juana, however, was part of the high society of Lima and married at the age of 18.

During his stay in Quito, Lorenzo was Judge of Residence of Adelantado Juan de Salinas and Fiscal Visitor of Loja, Cuenca and Zamora. He also formed part of the High Court of these three cities. It is important to remember that within his functions, in 1565, he prohibited the servitude of the indigenous people. He was also successful in his business, which helped the foundations that Teresa de Jesús made in Ávila. As for his brothers, he had six in total, of whom three died at a premature age. His brother Pedro maintained a very close contact with the Convent of San José in Ávila and continually sent financial help to build the convent started by their sister, Teresa of Jesus.

In 1575, Lorenzo decided to return to Spain with his four surviving children and his two brothers. Unfortunately, Teresita's uncle, Jerónimo, died during the trip, as did Esteban, one of Teresita's brothers. They finally arrived in Seville in mid-August 1575, and were welcomed by Teresa of Jesus.

Consequently, Teresita was admitted to the Carmelite convent of Seville and began to wear the Carmelite habit. Before leaving Seville, she was portrayed on a canvas by Juan de la Miseria, who had also portrayed Teresa of Jesus. In the portrait, he painted Teresita dressed as a Carmelite with the typical brown habit and a white cape of 10 years of age. She would continue to wear the habit until she began the novitiate in 1581 in Convento de San José in Ávila. However, a year before beginning the novitiate, on June 26, 1580, she would lose her father and would be left completely orphaned. Her brother would marry and the mother-in-law would try to divert Teresita's inheritance in favor of her brother. This affected Teresita and caused her to begin her vocational crisis.