St. Teresa of Avila.

"Whatever thou doest, offer it up to God and pray it may be for His honor
and glory."
-- St. Teresa of Avila.
Saint Teresa was born in Avila, Spain, March 28, 1515. She died in Alba, October 4, 1582. St. Teresa was the daughter of a Toledo merchant and his second wife, who died when Teresa was 15, one of ten children.She was then brought under the care of Augustinian nuns, during which time she decided to become nun herself.The letters of St Jerome had great influence on her.She was a mystic Carmelite nun who also was a reformer of Carmelite order.In 1970 she was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI.
She claimed that during her illness she rose from the lowest stage, "recollection", to the "devotions of silence" or even to the "devotions of ecstasy", which was one of perfect union with God. During this final stage, she said she frequently experienced a rich "blessing of tears."She also became conscious of her own natural impotence in confronting sin, and the necessity of absolute subjection to God.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_of_%C3%81vila

She had long periods of illness during which she experienced spiritual ectasy.
Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini designed the sculptural masterpiece in the Cornaro Chapel, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome

Franciscan priest St. Peter of Alcantara. became acquainted with her as Founder early in 1560, and became her spiritual guide and counsellor. She resolved to found a reformed Carmelite convent, correcting the laxity which she had found in the Cloister of the Incarnation and others.

. In 1567, she met St. John of the Cross, who she enlisted to extend her reform into the male side of the Carmelite Order. Teresa died in 1582.She also left a significant legacy of writings, which represent important benchmarks in the history of Christian mysticism. These works include the Way of Perfection and the Interior Castle. She also left an autobiography, the Life of Teresa of Avila.Forty years after her death, she was canonized, in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV.
Teresa is known for her style of mental and contemplative prayer. In all her writings on this subject she deals with her personal experiences, which a deep insight and analytical gifts enabled her to explain clearly. Her definition was used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "Contemplative prayer [oración mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us."