I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron's point there seemed to be a little fire.

(Bernini's Ecstasy of St Teresa of Avila. )

He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart, and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; though the body has its share in it. It is a caressing of love so sweet which now takes place between the soul and God, that I pray God of His goodness to make him experience it who may think that I am lying.

by St Teresa of Avila

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An artistic fusion of heavenly joy and ecstasy in fresh.

It could be a metaphorical.
But should this perfect union be more closer to the original intention of body and soul?
Such harmony... such consummation.

This is an astonishing theological work.
No less than piles of any master's writing.

A must see in person in my life.