God, The Joy of My Life: A Biography of Saint Teresa of the Andes

Teresa of Jesus of the Andes was the first Chilean saint when she was canonized in 1993 by Pope St. John Paul II. In 1919, she entered the Discalced Carmelites of Santiago at age eighteen and died only eleven months later. An inspiration to young people, she lived a vibrant social life amidst school, sports, music, and friends, all the while being completely devoted to her faith.

This volume, first published in 1989, contains both a biography written by Father Michael Griffin, O.C.D., and his translation of the saint’s personal diary. Father Griffin’s biography captures the whole of St. Teresa’s life, including her spiritual development up until her early death as a young nun. Her personal diary shows a young woman striving after holiness and a deep relationship with God. Also included are a full chronology of her life and the two homilies of Pope St. John Paul II given at her beatification and canonization.

This book is a reprint of the 1993 edition by Teresian Charism Press.


About the Author


Fr. Michael D. Griffin, O.C.D., (1924–2016) was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and entered the Discalced Carmelites when he was eighteen years old. Ordained to the priesthood in 1950, Father Michael served as a moral theology professor and later as a chaplain at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. He spent much of his life promoting the cause of St. Teresa of Jesus of the Andes through his books and speaking engagements.