Bernini’s sculpture of The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa of Avila
in Cappella Cornaro Della Vittoria, Rome
"Many waters cannot
quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of
one's house for love, it would be utterly scorned."
~ Song of Songs
“I saw in his 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.”
~ Teresa of
Avila, Autobiography
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| (All photos from: Idle Speculations) |
Oh Exceeding Beauty ~ by Teresa of Avila
All other beauties!
Paining, but You wound not
Free of pain You destroy
The love of creatures.
Oh, knot that binds
Two so different,
Why do You become unbound
For when held fast You strengthen
Making injuries seem good.
Bind the one without being
With being unending;
Finish, without finishing,
Love, without having to love,
Magnify our nothingness.
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