圣·特蕾莎（1515-1582）是基督教赤足卡门教派的创始人，最伟大的基督教神学家之一，天主教第一个封圣的女性。十七世纪中期的那些依然忠于罗马教会的天主教徒们，几乎无人不晓圣女特蕾莎的这段幻像描述，那时，圣特蕾莎的自传是部勾魂销魄的畅销书。贝尼尼的著名雕塑 Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, Bernini，描绘的正是这个圣者通灵时奇异而神秘的瞬间。

Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, baptized as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, (March 28, 1515 – October 4, 1582) was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint, Carmelite nun, writer of the Counter Reformation, and theologian of contemplative life through mental prayer. She was a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered to be a founder of the Discalced Carmelites along with John of the Cross.

In 1622, forty years after her death, she was canonized by Pope Gregory XV and was in 1970 named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI. Her books, which include her autobiography (The Life of Teresa of Jesus) and her seminal work El Castillo Interior (The Interior Castle) are an integral part of Spanish Renaissance literature as well as Christian mysticism and Christian meditation practices as she entails in her other important work, Camino de Perfección (The Way of Perfection).





贝尼尼的著名雕塑圣·特蕾莎的沉迷 Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, Bernini