St. Teresa of Ávila and Erotic Spiritual Language

The Ecstasy of St. Teresa

I was thinking of Teresa of Ávila and where she falls into the discussion about erotic language in worship. That’s her in the photo. Look at it and then read her account of a vision she had.

I saw in [the angel's] hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron’s point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart, and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; though the body has its share in it. It is a caressing of love so sweet which now takes place between the soul and God, that I pray God of His goodness to make him experience it who may think that I am lying.¹

My impression of this vision was less than holy when I first read it years ago. Like everyone else I thought the poor nun, chaste as she was, translated the experience of sexual ecstasy into a religious one, right? Thinking of it this time around, I thought perhaps she was using erotic imagery to express a spiritual experience or truth. But I moved beyond that explanation as well.

In the end I don’t think this was meant to be erotic at all. Sensual maybe, but not erotic. My initial reaction probably reveals more about me than the text itself. I’m showing that I’m a product of a post-Freudian world where phallic symbols abound.

Chapter 29; Part 17, Teresa’s Autobiography [Back ↩]

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Published:: 9.16.08 / 9am

Category:: theology

3 Comments

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kenny 9.16.08 / 12pm

Good call: sometimes a cigar is just a flaming spear of God.
Tay Moss 9.3.09 / 11am

In the classic divisions of the spiritual path–purgative, illuminative, unitive–one would expect the kind of love between us and God to change as we grow. Thus, a familial love (”Father”-to-child) is replaced with something like teacher-to-student and then finally an erotic one (Lover-to-beloved). Cf. Song of Songs. The mystic literature is full of this stuff in any time period. Writings from The Beguines are another commonly studied example.

I mean why say, “you can love your God, just don’t LOVE your God?” Why not? Surely the language of child-parent implies as much intimacy? Or is that we think erotic feelings are unworthy of the LORD? If the erotic love in marriage can be sanctified by the Holy Spirit, why not the erotic love in the creator-created relationship?

Me, I believe that God wants us to Love God, and that Love can take many forms, and will change and grow as we change and grow.

-tay
jos' 9.25.09 / 11am

I like the point you’re making Tay. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me. I reread my post and was momentarily horrified that I seemed to suggest erotic love was innately unholy. I certainly don’t want to think of sex as dirty.

I appreciate that the language and concepts we use for different types of love are shadows of the love God has for us (and empowers us to have for him). This might be more that what you’re saying, but your comments helped me get there.

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I’m father to two young boys. The older is a toddler who I’m getting to know pretty well. It’s my understanding that the chicks dig him. The younger is still an infant and is still a bit of a mystery. I’m married to a wonderful, bright woman who I admire. She’s what I need. She’s uncommonly sweet with a voice to match and that sometimes misleads people into thinking she doesn’t have a will of iron.

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