Summary

Abstract: Teresa of Los Andes (1900-1920), the first Chilean saint, has been studied mostly from an edifying biographical perspective. However, the richness of her figure, as well as that of the primary sources referring to her and her spirituality, reveal the possibility of a historical approach to the saint. In this context, we propose a review of the Diary and Letters of Juanita Fernández in light of spousal love, a key aspect of her life and her legacy. This dimension of her spiritual itinerary allows us to understand how a young woman who did not have systematic theological training, given her own mystical experience, reaches the highest peaks of contemplative prayer according to the San Juanist and Teresian Carmelite parameters, thus becoming an authentic representative of the Theology of the saints.
Keywords: Teresa of Los Andes, Carmelite, mysticism, spousal love.
Abstract: Teresa de Los Andes (1900-1920), first Chilean Saint, has been studied mainly from an edifying biographical perspective. However, the richness of her fi gure, and of the primary sources referred to her and her spirituality, reveal the possibility of a historical approach to the Saint. In this context, we propose a review of the Diary and Letters of Juanita Fernandez in the light of the spousal love, which is a key aspect of her life and her legacy. This dimension of her spiritual journey, allows to understand how a young woman who did not have a systematic theological training, given her own mystical experience, reached the highest summits of contemplative prayer according to the Carmelite parameter of St. John of the Cross and St. Theresa, thus becoming a true representative of the Theology of the Saints.
Keywords: Teresa of the Andes, Carmel, mystic, spousal love.