“Temor de Dios”. ¿Un modo de hablar o una autentica experiencia Teresiana? En torno a la “Exclamación” 14

Abstract

One of the most frequently explored dimensions of the spiritual life of St Teresa of Jesus is the complex theme of her prayer: the vibrant friendship with God. Most publications focus primarily on what constitutes an inestimable wealth for the Church, which is the mystical phase of Teresa’s prayer. But in this article the research area is the first period of the Spanish mystic’s life of faith, which is a common ground for all believers. The present analysis refers to the rarely discussed aspect of her spiritual life: the fear of God. An attempt at the evaluation of the authenticity of this experience and its possible causes is based on one of the Teresian written sources. Important foundations of the presented reflection are the historical studies of that phase of Teresa’s life. In the light of those studies, the fear of God which the Saint speaks of several times in her writings seems a common element in the experience of the sixteenth-century believers in Spain, which at the same time indicates that the spiritual life of Teresa of Jesus developed in a fairly typical process. Thanks to this, Teresa, with her experience, also today stands before the faithful as a guide in the search for the true face of God.