Gina Loehr

The Four Teresas by Gina Loehr is a book about – you guessed it – the four well-loved T(h)erese/as of the Church: St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

There is St. Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite Nun who reformed her Order, penned “The Interior Castle,” and was named a Doctor of the Church. And St. Therese of Lisieux, another Doctor of the Church and Carmelite Nun, “the little flower” known for her “little way.” Also St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, otherwise known as Edith Stein, who was also a Carmelite Nun and martyred during the Holocaust. Finally, there is Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (that is, Mother Teresa), who founded the Missionaries of Charity and cared for the poorest of the poor in India.

It is kind of amazing that Gina Loehr has managed to jam these four amazing women into one small book, but she has, and successfully, I might add. The Four Teresas consists of five chapters, one chapter for each of these saints, and one for them all. Each chapter, aside from the last, contains a short biography, what that particular saint taught during her life, and how we can apply it to our own lives – how to “live the lesson.” Using these four women as examples, Ms. Loehr shows how to better love God with your whole heart, soul, and mind, and how to love your neighbor as yourself. Sound familiar? You can easily pick up this book, read for a few minutes, then continue on with your busy day with a new little something to reflect on.

This book is great in how it shows that saints aren’t born that way. All four Teresas were all ordinary human beings, with the same struggles and questions that we have. For instance, St. Teresa of Avila struggled with vanity and gossip. What woman hasn’t? (Ok, what woman, aside from the Virgin Mary, who is sinless, hasn’t struggled with those?) Yet, they worked at their flaws, prayed, and trusted in Him, and God made them extraordinary. Another great thing about this book is that it gives you the tools to do the same.

So, if you’re looking for a new spiritual read (Lent is coming up, people), you may want to check out The Four Teresas by Gina Loehr. You’ll probably find yourself re-reading it. And, you might want to hand it off to any pregnant women looking for girl names. T(h)erese/a seems to have a good track record…and the girl will have several amazing patrons. Just saying.… (meer)