Sin in the mystique of St Teresa of Avila

texts, meanings and experience

Abstract

The study of the mystique of St. Teresa brings an important contribution to the understanding of the evil caused by sin. Although St Teresa’s emphasis is the experience of God’s love and the invitation to personal and collective surrender to this love, the author presents us with contrasting texts with this experience. The article explores relevant texts, meanings and Teresian experiences of sin. The contribution of the mystique to the theological and existential understanding of the reality of evil in the person is perceived, by which there is a refusal to recognize God as a human principle and end, deep inner suffering and serious ethical consequences. The teresian experience presents an anthropological, not moral, perspective of sin. The article presents the reality of sin in relation to God, explores aspects of sin in the human person, demonstrates this reality as a risk never overcome in the spiritual life and articulates sin with the absence of prayer.