Of the thousands of words written by St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), few have struck such a universal chord throughout the centuries as the lines of the following prayer:

Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass away.
God alone abides and with patient longing, make him your sole stay.
In him you have everything. Hold to God and nothing shall fail you.
He alone is enough.

This prayer, often called “St Teresa’s Bookmark,” was found written in the margins of the prayer book St Teresa of Avila was using at the time of her death