Avila College of Education

The College emblem consists of images of an open book and a lighted candle, protected by enclosing hands/ The book symbolizes knowledge which enables a person to transcend limitations to attain enlightenment by discovering one’s true self. A true knowledge of the self leads to true peace and happiness. The lighted candle radiates light to remove the darkness all around.

Light is the traditional symbol of wisdom. It enables us to translate our vision into reality. The enclosing hands symbolize the vigilance and protection extended to all those who seek education in the College. It also protects the light of vision from adverse winds that blow all around. It also protects young minds from the evil influences and adverse circumstances.

Name of the College and its Heavenly Patroness

As St. Teresa of Avila, a Spanish mystic writer and Christian saint has been chosen as the divine patroness, the College is named as Avila College of Education. St. Teresa of Avila (Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada) was born in Avila, Spain on 28th March 1515, Her parents were both pious Catholics and in some ways inspired their daughter to take up a life of prayer. As a young child Teresa showed signs of a deeply religious nature; she would often retreat into silence for prayer and would enjoy giving alms to the poor. She was very close to her mother, who provided a warm counterbalance to the strictness of her father.

However in her teens Teresa’s mother died and she tells, later in her writings, of her despair and how she turned instinctively to the Virgin Mary for comfort. Shortly after this event, Teresa was entrusted to the care of the Augustinian nuns. After reading the letters of St. Jerome, Teresa resolved to enter religious life. In 1535, she joined the Carmelite Order. She spent a number of years in the convent enduring a severe illness that left her legs paralyzed for three years, but then experienced a vision of “the sorely wounded Christ” that changed her life forever. From this point forward, Teresa moved into a period of increasingly ecstatic experiences in which she came to focus more and more sharply on Christ’s passion. With these visions as her impetus, she set herself to the reformation of her order, beginning with her attempt to master herself and her adherence to the rule. Gathering a group of supporters, Teresa endeavored to create a more primitive type of Carmelite life. From 1560 until her death, Teresa struggled to establish and broaden the movement of Discalced or shoeless Carmelites.

During the mid -1560s, she wrote The Way of Perfection and the Meditations on the Canticle. Her well-know work, The Interior Castle is an integral part of Spanish Renaissance literature and Christian mysticism. Her writings represent important benchmarks in the history of Christian mysticism. She also left an autobiography, the Life of Teresa of Avila. St. Teresa died in 1582. (Sources: Catholic Encyclopedia, Carmelite Websites and Ethereal Library Net).

Founder of the College

Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kureethara, the late Bishop of Cochin, is the Founder patron of Avila College of Education. It was his dream to establish a college for teacher education in the 20 acre Aquinas grounds with facility for study and research up to Ph.D. level. He chose Edacochin, an educationally, socially and economically backward area of Cochin to establish this college, as he wanted to provide opportunities for higher education to the marginalized and disadvantage sections of society in and around the place.