Teresa of Avila and the politics of sanctity

By Gillian T. W. Ahlgren

Book Description

This scholarly exploration reveals how one of history's most revered mystics navigated the treacherous waters of religious authority in sixteenth-century Spain. Teresa of Avila faced extraordinary challenges as a female spiritual writer during the Counter-Reformation, when the Church intensified its control over religious texts and viewed women's mystical experiences with growing suspicion.

Gillian Ahlgren examines how Teresa's profound spiritual insights were shaped by the political realities of her time. As inquisitional pressure mounted and women's visionary experiences fell under scrutiny, Teresa developed sophisticated rhetorical strategies to protect her message and defend mystical practice. Her later writings employed protective codes that scholars are only now beginning to understand fully.

The book demonstrates how Teresa's theological voice emerged as both a response to and challenge against the restrictive assumptions about women's spiritual authority. Despite the hostile climate, she became the sole female theologian published in late sixteenth-century Spain, courageously advocating for the legitimacy of mystical experience, particularly among women.

Ahlgren reveals the ironic transformation that followed Teresa's death, showing how Church officials later appropriated her protective strategies to reshape her legacy into an idealized model of Counter-Reformation sanctity. This study offers valuable insights into the complex relationship between spiritual authenticity, institutional power, and the courage required to maintain one's spiritual voice under pressure.