“Mysticism and Visual Theology: The Sacred Image and Gaze in Saint Teresa of Ávila.”
Onofre, Dario Velandia. “Mysticism and Visual Theology: The Sacred Image and Gaze in Saint Teresa of Ávila.” Journal of Medieval Religious Cultures 51, no. 1 (2025): 54–77.
Velandia, an art historian with interest in how literary sources condition visual culture, offers an article exploring the relationship between mystical and visual theology. He seeks to elucidate the way in which Teresa’s works contribute to the development of a theology of visual practices, which in turn sheds light on the theological impact of sacred images and the sacred gaze. The author relies on The Book of Her Life, The Way of Perfection, as well as The Interior Castle. He begins by indicating three aspects of visual images that are important to consider, namely location, the nature of the image, and whether it produces an emotional reaction. The themes of empathy and imitation weave through Velandia’s summary of The Interior Castle, as she explains the significance of each mansion. He then asserts that precisely how Teresa understood sacred images is not entirely clear, but he argues that Teresa does appear to think that they go beyond mere representation. Velandia goes on to make interesting historical notes about the complex visual culture in Spain at St. Teresa’s time, as well as the Franciscan and Jesuit influences in her life and theology of prayer. Moreover, he cites Ignatius of Loyola as a critical influence on St. Teresa’s understanding of visual images. He introduces several instances of Teresa explaining mystical experiences with visual images. Importantly, he notes Teresa’s insistence that we reach God through Christ’s humanity and how physical images awaken devotion, emotion, and imagination in St. Teresa. He concludes that Teresa’s theology suggests that not only do sacred images aid in visualization, but he also goes so far as to say that they themselves might in some sense “contain” divinity (akin to how icons are understood as windows into heaven in Orthodox theology). He posits that it is for this reason that Teresa believes that they can serve as a means of spiritual education and facilitate experiencing the gaze of God. The article provides an intriguing interdisciplinary analysis of the role of sacred images in Teresa of Avila’s thought.