Final answer:
Teresa of Avila was a 16th-century nun known for her mystic visions and writings, which have influenced both Catholic spirituality and Baroque art, particularly seen in Bernini's sculpture depicting her spiritual ecstasy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Teresa of Avila was a significant figure in the history of the Catholic Church, renowned for her mysticism and the spiritual visions she encountered. Living during the 16th century in Spain, a time marked by the Reformation, she authored several texts describing her spiritual experiences. Teresa's visions were characterized by intense physical descriptions that were intended to convey the profound nature of her divine encounters in terms more relatable to the human experience.
The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini is a famous sculpture that artistically captures one of Teresa's visions, where an angel pierces her heart with a divine arrow, signifying the overwhelming love of God.
Teresa's writings and experiences contributed to the Baroque art movement's emphasis on emotional involvement and the sensual representation of religious experiences. Influenced by other mystic devotional writings from the late medieval period, which focused on the humanity and suffering of Christ, Teresa's descriptions aimed to involve the reader or viewer on a visceral level. Her contributions to Christian mysticism remain significant within the context of religious history and art.