Teresa von Ávila BW 715
(1515-1582) spanische katholische Heilige

• Let us remember that within us there is a palace of immense magnificence.
  When I think of the Most Holy Trinity, or hear it spoken of, I seem to understand how there can by such a mystery, and it is a great joy to me. Teresa of Ávila [LoC 715] (1515-1582) Spanish Carmelite nun, Roman Catholic saint, mystic, theologian

• Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours.Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion for the world is to look out; yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now. Teresa of Ávila [LoC 715] (1515-1582) Spanish Carmelite nun, Roman Catholic saint, mystic, theologian

Courage

• Many remain at the foot of the mount who could ascend to the top [...]
  I repeat and ask that you always have courageous thoughts. As a result of them, God will give you grace for courageous deeds. Teresa of Ávila [LoC 715] (1515-1582) Spanish Carmelite nun, Roman Catholic saint, mystic, theologian

Patience

• Let nothing trouble you, let nothing make you afraid. All things pass away. God never changes. Patience obtains everything. God alone is enough. Teresa of Ávila [LoC 715] (1515-1582) Spanish Carmelite nun, Roman Catholic saint, mystic, theologian

Faith

• Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. Teresa of Ávila [LoC 715] (1515-1582) Spanish Carmelite nun, Roman Catholic saint, mystic, theologian

• God would have you keep back nothing from Him, little or great. He will have it all; in proportion to what you know you have given will your reward be great or small. There is no more certain sign whether or not we have reached the prayer of union. Do not imagine that this state of prayer is, like the one preceding it, a sort of drowsiness (I call it 'drowsiness' because the soul seems to slumber, being neither quite asleep nor wholly awake). In the prayer of union the soul is asleep, fast asleep, as regards the world and itself: in fact, during the short time this state lasts it is deprived of all feeling whatever, being unable to think on any subject, even if it wished. No effort is needed here to suspend the thoughts: if the soul can love it knows not how, nor whom it loves, nor what it desires. In fact, it has died entirely to this world, to live more truly than ever in God. This is a delicious death, for the soul is deprived of the faculties it exercised while in the body: delicious because, (although not really the case), it seems to have left its mortal covering to abide more entirely in God. So completely does this take place, that I know not whether the body retains sufficient life to continue breathing; on consideration, I believe it does not; at any rate, if it still breathes, it does so unconsciously. Teresa of Ávila [LoC 715] (1515-1582) Spanish Carmelite nun, Roman Catholic saint, mystic, theologian

Ecstasy of St Theresa, 1652, Santa Maria Della Vittoria,
Cornaro chapel, Rome, sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini

• Avoid tiring yourselves or wasting your thoughts in subtle reason about what you cannot properly understand. [...]
  When the Beloved desires to give understanding, it will happen without effort. Teresa of Ávila [LoC 715] (1515-1582) Spanish Carmelite nun, Roman Catholic, saint, mystic, theologian

• I regard the centre of our soul as a cellar, into which God admits us as and when it pleases Him, so as to intoxicate us with the delicious wine of His grace. Teresa of Ávila [LoC 715] (1515-1582) Spanish Carmelite nun, Roman Catholic saint, mystic, theologian

The 'unio mystica' state has long had sexual connotations. Being one with God was likened to sexual union with one's beloved. This was not the result of the mystic believing the union was sexual or seeing sexuality where it did not exist, but instead, it was the way the mystic herself described the experience.

• "Beside me on the left appeared an angel in bodily form. [...] He was not tall but short, and very beautiful; and his face was so aflame that he appeared to be one of the highest ranks of angels, who seem to be all on fire. [...] In his hands I saw a great golden spear, and at the iron tip there appeared to be a point of fire. This he plunged into my heart several times so that it penetrated my entrails. When he pulled it out I felt that he took them with it, and left me utterly consumed by the great love of God.
  The pain was so severe that it made me utter several moans. The sweetness caused by this intense pain is so extreme that one can not possibly wish it to cease, nor is one's soul content with anything but God. This is not a physical but a spiritual pain, though the body has some share in it – even a considerable share." Teresa of Ávila [LoC 715] (1515-1582) Spanish Carmelite nun, Roman Catholic saint, mystic, theologian
  The sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini executed Teresa's description of her mystical union with God. 1647-1652