---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy…"
description: "\"“an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other extraordinary phenomena developed. These experiences were thought of as something to be obtained at..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/teresa-of-vila-1246_quote_an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy_86800.jpg"
---

#  an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other…

![“an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other extraordinary phenomena developed. These experiences were thought of as something to be obtained at all costs. Among some noted but deceptive visionaries of the time was the stigmatic, María de Santo Domingo (1486-1524), known as the Beata of…” quote by Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/teresa-of-vila-1246_quote_an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy_86800.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/teresa-of-vila-1246_quote_an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy_86800.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/teresa-of-vila-1246_quote_an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy_86800.jpg)

> ““an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other extraordinary phenomena developed. These experiences were thought of as something to be obtained at all costs. Among some noted but deceptive visionaries of the time was the stigmatic, María de Santo Domingo (1486-1524), known as the Beata of Piedrahita. Her monastery became a center of spirituality and high prayer; she herself wrote a book on prayer and contemplation. But soon the Master General of the Dominicans had to isolate her because of certain aberrations and prophetic revelations. No one in the order, with the exception of her confessor, was allowed to converse with her or administer the sacraments to her; nor was anyone allowed to speak about her prophecies, ecstasies, and raptures, except to the provincial. Another visionary, Magdalena de la Cruz, a Poor Clare with a reputation for holiness, severe fasts, and long vigils, also bearing the stigmata, let it be known that she no longer required any food except the consecrated Host in daily Communion. In an investigation by the Inquisition she confessed to being a secret devil worshiper. Inspired by two incubuses with whom she had made a pact, she became very skillful at all sorts of legerdemain. Through her success in fooling both bishops and kings, she brought the fear of being deceived to all of Spain.””

[Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Historical mystics sometimes blended genuine spirituality with deception, leading authorities to isolate them for perceived heresy or fraud.

**In simple terms:** Mystics can be both sincere and deceptive, prompting institutional control.

Key Takeaway

Spiritual fervor can mask manipulation.

Themes

religion herm mysticism authority

Mood

intriguing skeptical

Type

historical analytical

When to use this quote

- cult leadership
- charismatic political figures
- pseudo‑scientific movements

Key Concepts

psychology of belief social control

Practical Applications

- critical thinking curricula
- transparent religious oversight

Questions to Reflect On

- How can institutions distinguish authentic mysticism from manipulation?
- What safeguards protect both believers and skeptics?

A Different Perspective

Not all visionary experiences are fraudulent; some may reflect genuine religious insight.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Devil worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil-worship/)

## Related quotes

> [“It's hard to imagine a more biblical definition of devil worship than an exaltation of the self, an exaltation of the ego, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-d-moore/it-s-hard-to-imagine-a-more-biblical-definition-of-devil-worship-than/)

[Russell D. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-d-moore/)

> [“Some alters are what Dr Ross describes in Multiple Personality Disorder as 'fragments'. which are 'relatively limited psychic states that express only one feeling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-jamieson/some-alters-are-what-dr-ross-describes-in-multiple-personality-2/)

[Alice Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-jamieson/)

> [When I was signed to Quincy Jones before I went independent, he told me to rap what you know, and people will forever feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/when-i-was-signed-to-quincy-jones-before-i-went-independent-he-told/)

[Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/)

> [“If we isolate the stray thought, the passing thought,” he said, “the thought whose origin is unfathomable, then we begin to understand that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/if-we-isolate-the-stray-thought-the-passing-thought-he-said-the/)

[Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/)

> [...finally men were saved only through God's son dying for them, and that unless human beings believed this silly, impossible and wicked story they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/finally-men-were-saved-only-through-god-s-son-dying-for-them-and-that/)

[Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/)

> [“No place in Haiti was easy to get to and to drive to their lodge would take a couple of hours, so they sent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/no-place-in-haiti-was-easy-to-get-to-and-to-drive-to-their-lodge/)

Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One

> [“the fact that there was this capacity even in a paranoiac for intelligence, even in a devil worshipper for love; the fact that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-fact-that-there-was-this-capacity-even-in-a-paranoiac-for/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [“And always, everywhere, there would be the yelling or quietly authoritative hypnotists; and in the train of the ruling suggestion givers, always everywhere, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/and-always-everywhere-there-would-be-the-yelling-or-quietly/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [The devil considers all misplaced trust as devil worship, for he hides himself in its shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/the-devil-considers-all-misplaced-trust-as-devil-worship-for-he-hides/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

> [“Dr Silay said the poor girl should have a Sunni Muslim funeral, but he thinks the family were probably secretly Yazidi, because she said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-cappa/dr-silay-said-the-poor-girl-should-have-a-sunni-muslim-funeral-but-he/)

Gerard Cappa

> [Scary rock n' roll bands had all the devilish imagery. But at the same time, it's not because they were devil worshippers, they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/scary-rock-n-roll-bands-had-all-the-devilish-imagery-but-at-the-same/)

[Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/)

> [When devil worshippers get a sunburn, they should call them SaTANs. Get it? Cause he's red? And they are now? Oh, shut up. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-devil-worshippers-get-a-sunburn-they-should-call-them-satans-get/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Faith healers. God-loves-you religions. State-supported lotteries. All that enormous energy expended to conquer nothing at all, stadia full of people watching no conquering going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-s-tepper/faith-healers-god-loves-you-religions-state-supported-lotteries-all/)

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-s-tepper/)

> [“I try to tell the teacher, you know. I don't give a fuck about geometry or English. Like I'm probably going to drive a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bradfield/i-try-to-tell-the-teacher-you-know-i-don-t-give-a-fuck-about-geometry/)

[Scott Bradfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bradfield/)

> [I read all the great philosophers but most people just hear what they want to hear and it makes it easy for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-read-all-the-great-philosophers-but-most-people-just-hear-what-they/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

## More by Teresa of Ávila

> [“Of the good things they do many will pass unnoticed, or will even not be considered good at all; but they need not fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/of-the-good-things-they-do-many-will-pass-unnoticed-or-will-even-not/)

[Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [I made you, dear, and all I make is perfect. Please come close, for I desire you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/i-made-you-dear-and-all-i-make-is-perfect-please-come-close-for-i/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [How often I failed in my duty to God, because I was not leaning on the strong pillar of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-often-i-failed-in-my-duty-to-god-because-i-was-not-leaning-on-the/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Half-instructed confessors have done my soul great harm; for I could not always have such learned ones as I would have desired. They certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/half-instructed-confessors-have-done-my-soul-great-harm-for-i-could/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Truth suffers, but never dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/truth-suffers-but-never-dies/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [“you will never lack so much of the water of comfort that your thirst will be intolerable;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/you-will-never-lack-so-much-of-the-water-of-comfort-that-your-thirst/)

[Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/whoever-has-god-lacks-nothing-god-alone-suffices/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Do you know when people really become spiritual? It is when they become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/do-you-know-when-people-really-become-spiritual-it-is-when-they/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [How friendly we should all be with one another if nobody were interested in money and honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/how-friendly-we-should-all-be-with-one-another-if-nobody-were/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [“The Lord has no body now on earth but yours, no hands now but yours, no feet now but yours. Yours are the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/the-lord-has-no-body-now-on-earth-but-yours-no-hands-now-but-yours-no/)

[Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Our greatest gain is to lose the wealth that is of such brief duration and, by comparison with eternal things, of such little worth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/our-greatest-gain-is-to-lose-the-wealth-that-is-of-such-brief/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [God has no hands or feet or voice except ours and through these He works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/god-has-no-hands-or-feet-or-voice-except-ours-and-through-these-he/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [His Majesty knows best what is suitable for us. There's no need for us to be advising Him about what He should give us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/his-majesty-knows-best-what-is-suitable-for-us-there-s-no-need-for-us/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [There is no affliction, trial, or labor difficult to endure, when we consider the torments and sufferings which Our Lord Jesus Christ endured for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/there-is-no-affliction-trial-or-labor-difficult-to-endure-when-we/)

[Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [“It is quite important to withdraw from all unnecessary cares and business, as far as compatible with the duties of one’s state of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/it-is-quite-important-to-withdraw-from-all-unnecessary-cares-and/)

[Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

[Explore all 267 Teresa of Ávila quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

## More Devil worship quotes

> [“It's hard to imagine a more biblical definition of devil worship than an exaltation of the self, an exaltation of the ego, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-d-moore/it-s-hard-to-imagine-a-more-biblical-definition-of-devil-worship-than/)

[Russell D. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-d-moore/)

> [“I try to tell the teacher, you know. I don't give a fuck about geometry or English. Like I'm probably going to drive a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bradfield/i-try-to-tell-the-teacher-you-know-i-don-t-give-a-fuck-about-geometry/)

[Scott Bradfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bradfield/)

> [“Faith healers. God-loves-you religions. State-supported lotteries. All that enormous energy expended to conquer nothing at all, stadia full of people watching no conquering going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-s-tepper/faith-healers-god-loves-you-religions-state-supported-lotteries-all/)

[Sheri S. Tepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-s-tepper/)

> [When devil worshippers get a sunburn, they should call them SaTANs. Get it? Cause he's red? And they are now? Oh, shut up. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-devil-worshippers-get-a-sunburn-they-should-call-them-satans-get/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Scary rock n' roll bands had all the devilish imagery. But at the same time, it's not because they were devil worshippers, they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/scary-rock-n-roll-bands-had-all-the-devilish-imagery-but-at-the-same/)

[Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/)

> [“Dr Silay said the poor girl should have a Sunni Muslim funeral, but he thinks the family were probably secretly Yazidi, because she said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-cappa/dr-silay-said-the-poor-girl-should-have-a-sunni-muslim-funeral-but-he/)

Gerard Cappa

> [The devil considers all misplaced trust as devil worship, for he hides himself in its shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/the-devil-considers-all-misplaced-trust-as-devil-worship-for-he-hides/)

[Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/)

> [“And always, everywhere, there would be the yelling or quietly authoritative hypnotists; and in the train of the ruling suggestion givers, always everywhere, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/and-always-everywhere-there-would-be-the-yelling-or-quietly/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [“the fact that there was this capacity even in a paranoiac for intelligence, even in a devil worshipper for love; the fact that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/the-fact-that-there-was-this-capacity-even-in-a-paranoiac-for/)

[Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/)

> [“No place in Haiti was easy to get to and to drive to their lodge would take a couple of hours, so they sent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/no-place-in-haiti-was-easy-to-get-to-and-to-drive-to-their-lodge/)

Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One

> [...finally men were saved only through God's son dying for them, and that unless human beings believed this silly, impossible and wicked story they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/finally-men-were-saved-only-through-god-s-son-dying-for-them-and-that/)

[Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/)

> [“If we isolate the stray thought, the passing thought,” he said, “the thought whose origin is unfathomable, then we begin to understand that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/if-we-isolate-the-stray-thought-the-passing-thought-he-said-the/)

[Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/)

> [When I was signed to Quincy Jones before I went independent, he told me to rap what you know, and people will forever feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/when-i-was-signed-to-quincy-jones-before-i-went-independent-he-told/)

[Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/)

> [“Some alters are what Dr Ross describes in Multiple Personality Disorder as 'fragments'. which are 'relatively limited psychic states that express only one feeling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-jamieson/some-alters-are-what-dr-ross-describes-in-multiple-personality-2/)

[Alice Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-jamieson/)

> [I read all the great philosophers but most people just hear what they want to hear and it makes it easy for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-read-all-the-great-philosophers-but-most-people-just-hear-what-they/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

[Browse all 37 Devil worship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil-worship/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other extraordinary phenomena developed. These experiences were thought of as something to be obtained at all costs. Among some noted but deceptive visionaries of the time was the stigmatic, María de Santo Domingo (1486-1524), known as the Beata of Piedrahita. Her monastery became a center of spirituality and high prayer; she herself wrote a book on prayer and contemplation. But soon the Master General of the Dominicans had to isolate her because of certain aberrations and prophetic revelations. No one in the order, with the exception of her confessor, was allowed to converse with her or administer the sacraments to her; nor was anyone allowed to speak about her prophecies, ecstasies, and raptures, except to the provincial. Another visionary, Magdalena de la Cruz, a Poor Clare with a reputation for holiness, severe fasts, and long vigils, also bearing the stigmata, let it be known that she no longer required any food except the consecrated Host in daily Communion. In an investigation by the Inquisition she confessed to being a secret devil worshiper. Inspired by two incubuses with whom she had made a pact, she became very skillful at all sorts of legerdemain. Through her success in fooling both bishops and kings, she brought the fear of being deceived to all of Spain.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Teresa of Ávila"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy-and-other-extraordinary/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Devil worship"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy-and-other-extraordinary/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/teresa-of-vila-1246_quote_an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy_86800.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/teresa-of-vila-1246_quote_an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy_86800.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/teresa-of-vila-1246_quote_an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy_86800.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and other extraordinary phenomena developed. These experiences were…” — Teresa of Ávila",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Teresa of Ávila",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“an unrestrained infatuation with ecstasy and...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy-and-other-extraordinary/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/an-unrestrained-infatuation-with-ecstasy-and-other-extraordinary/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
