Santa Teresa

Unlike Sor Juana, who was forgotten for centuries, St. Teresa (1515-1582) has been continuously studied since her death. Like Sor Juana, who cites her as a model, Teresa was basically self-taught. Both shone so brightly that their successive confessors could not overshadow them. Thus, they learned from no other teachers than the books themselves. However, Sor Juana leaned towards secular knowledge, while Teresa focused on theology. This fourth and final lecture will analyse the first chapters of the Libro de la vida [Book of Her Life] (1564-1565), where Teresa describes her childhood and youth. We will also examine her mystical ecstasies, one of the most difficult human experiences to describe, portrayed in full spiritual maturity, emphasising the opposition between suffering and pleasure, loss and gain, body and soul.