Gianlorenzo Bernini, "Ecstasy of St. Theresa" (1652), Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome
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…
- Theresa of Avila, Life (1567)
SocialVibe