SIMULACRUM OF ECSTASY

A MARBLE SCULPTURE OF THE 16TH CENTURY SPANISH, CARMELITE, VISIONARY AND MYSTIC, ST. TERESA OF AVILA, DEPICTS HER ECSTASY. "SO INTENSE WAS THE PAIN," SHE WRITES, " THAT I SCREAMED ALOUD; SO GREAT WAS THE SWEETNESS THAT I NEVER WANTED TO LOSE IT." IS THERE ANY RELEVANCE FOR THIS SAINT’S TRANSFORMATIONAL RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE TODAY?

AN ART CRITIC OF THIS RAPTUROUS CREATION BY THE SCULPTURER BERNINI, LOCATED IN ROME, FELT THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE WAS ANOTHER ISSUE, NOT TO BE INCLUDED IN HER LITERARY REVIEW PIECE. BUT ISN'T A RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE JUST THE POINT? IN THE SCULPTURE, AN ANGEL CARRIES A SPEAR WITH WHICH HE/SHE HAS JUST PIERCED ST. TERESA'S HEART. ST. TERESA'S MESSAGE FOR US IS NOT ONE OF PETRIFIED FEELING. NO, IT RADIATES WARMTH AND PASSION THROUGH THE COLD STONE. THE MESSAGE CAN ONLY BE READ BY AWAKENED SOULS.

THE POET, ALEXANDER POPE, CAPTURES THE MAGIC MOMENT WHEN HE WROTE THAT ONE MAY "DIE OF A ROSE IN AROMATIC PAIN." WHEN WILL THOSE AMERICANS ASLEEP WHEN GOD SPEAKS, WAKE UP TO SMELL THE ROSES?