Rome’s most controversial artwork

Here’s how St Teresa described her ecstasy ⤵️ Do you think Bernini was accurate in his sculpture?

“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 rank 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 to 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 cannot 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, The Life of Teresa of Jesus (1562–65)

[LiveVirtualGuide]

Here’s how St Teresa described her ecstasy ⤵️ Do you think Bernini was accurate in his sculpture?

“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 rank 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 to 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 cannot 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,  The Life of Teresa of Jesus (1562–65)

[kevd]

I love many sculptors, from the Egyptians to the Greeks to the Romans and beyond, but Bernini has to be the greatest of them all. His works look as though they are ready to spring to life.

[C.C.]

So Bernini literally said "that's what she said" 😂❤ love it!

[Sara-pied]

Can you take us along to the oldest graveyard of Rome, i was there last year, it has historical sculptures and the air felt bit strange, I wanted to spend more time but rush out quickly, although I'm not afraid of these places.
I forget the name of graveyard but it is huge and elevated with big beautiful trees

[MonsieurChapeau]

Unbelievably stunning. It does not look erotic to me nor does her description does sound erotic. However I think that being in religious or sexual ecstasy are closely related. It is an emotional untruth to completely separate them and this hard separation between sexuality and virtue in Christianity leads to much psychological suffering and illness. The statue is a masterpiece and the church so beautiful.

[airheadknight]

I was there near that Church but never entered. Didn't even know statue was inside.

[albertsmyth]

It is absolutely stunning in real life, and deeply moving. We should not however, be surprised that the decadent, secular world puts a debased and worldly interpretation on to this beautiful depiction of spiritual ecstacy. To the pure all things are pure, and sadly, vice versa.

[rosaliadecastro]

el erotismo estaba en la narracion original de santa Teresa, igual que san juan de la Cruz, santa teresa recurría a ese tipo de imágenes para describir sus sentimientos.

[Marino-zu]

Davanti a Bernini bisogna stare zitti.

[rosaliadecastro]

no tiene ningun sentido visitar Roma sin haber visto antes tus videos.

[una]

I wish I had known about this when I was there. Teresa is my favorite saint. Too bad. She is way too deep. I had to stop reading at the third castle.

[ladyamoniacorebajas]

El ángel está inspirado en la cara del hijo del escultor. Es una belleza.

Llévanos de excursión al cementerio de Roma

[CHSCxp]

no. it is not controversial. its not sexual but spiritual

[seandarbby]

Visited a couple weeks ago because it was one of the statues from the Angels & Demons book and movie

[SUPERIDOLProductions]

Why does everything have to spark controversy these days!? From ancient iconic artifacts being removed because of a few woke people!

[valerioadrianozuccarello]

She said besides me on the left
Not on the right
Just kidding your tour through rome is amazing.

[margotmargot]

of course everything in this earth is a sign of what is in heaven, so is the sexual extasis between spouses, a sign of the greater extasis our soul will feel when united with our Creator.

[mark.chandos]

I was there. It is stunning. Just another ugly church...but that sculpture is divine! Amazing its still in a church. Who owns it?

[RUTHLESSambition]

Ive been to rome and i wasn't impressed AT ALL. It looks run down