Theresa: The Body of Christ (Teresa, el cuerpo de Cristo)

Castile, the mid-sixteenth century.

Valdes, the head of

the Holy Office, is filling the dungeons

in search of the Devil.

The glory of the Conquest fills the tables of those in power with gold

while the people live in poverty and ignorance.

Heretics offer their naked bodies to the Lord in orgiastic liturgies.

Illuminati, heretics, Lutherans, Huguenots...

Our church is attacked from without...

and grows dark within.

Bodies are burned in the squares

to save souls.

All hearts are governed by fear.

All...

but one.

I am Yours,

for You created me.

Yours,

for You redeemed me.

Yours,

for You suffered for me.

Yours,

for You called me.

Yours,

for You preserved me.

Yours,

for I was not lost.

What would You have me do?

Lady Teresa insists on seeing you, Master Daza.

She will not leave your office till you have heard her.

The poor fool.

These are bad times for our church.

The last thing we need

is another dose of confusion.

No, no, Lady Teresa, this must end.

- Can't you see the danger you're in? - The danger,

Master Daza, is drawing away from Him.

Please,

do not take God's name in vain.

- Who do you think you are? - Who am I?

His wife.

I beg you, cease this madness.

- All love is madness. - Can't you see

that this could be a thing of the Devil?

It is not the Devil.

The Devil does not grant such sweet love.

My Lord is God.

My husband, the Almighty.

So proud thinking you've reached Him

when the rest of us

- seek in the dark? - I have found the way.

As others have before me.

He is here,

in these very books. In St Augustine...

In Osuna...

In Adolphus of Saxony.

Certain words are poison

to certain ears.

I'm sure you're right, Master Daza.

I am a woman and despicable.

But what I half understand, I feel totally

and nothing deceives my soul.

There is an interior castle, here.

That is madness.

No more madness than abandoning life

to devote the heart to seeking Him.

There's no better reason than love.

Love itself

that without realizing I sought from the beginning.

Love which led me astray

and finally saved me.

If it's true you're dishonored, then this family's honor

is lost.

I did not say it was.

Not saying it wasn't is the same.

And little does that matter.

In affairs of honor,

one rumor is enough.

Thank God your mother is not here to see this.

No man can love you now.

I know of one.

Lauds at cockcrow,

lunch before the Angelus,

common tasks... sewing or tending the garden, supper,

then compline.

The sisters' refectory.

The ladies eat in their rooms.

You'll be comfortable here.

- I do not need so much. - Save your humility

for greater trials, for they will come.

I believe in God.

In a God who calls me yet whom I do not hear.

I tremble

just thinking of Him.

And I want to see His face

so close to mine

that nothing can separate us.

I have... such an urgent need

that my breath fails me.

I am alone.

Patience, daughter. You're yet a child.

No, Father.

I am a grown woman...

and ready to be taken.

- I'll take that, madam. - Let it go. I do not need a maid.

But I need a mistress.

What's that?

I know you're a lady with a dowry, a daughter of the Ahumadas, and good.

And I am in need.

We're all equals here.

No, not here. That's upstairs.

Go. Let me do my duties.

The kitchen's no place for a lady.

She is in love with you.

Every time you come, her face lights up.

She speaks of nothing else

and cannot wait to see you.

Skinflint.

- What are you doing? - Nothing.

There's no worse nun than a procuress.

Yes, there is.

A hungry nun with cold feet.

If Your love for me,

O Lord,

is like mine for You,

then tell me

why do I hesitate?

And you...

why do you delay?

"Soul,

what do you want of me?"

"My Lord,

only to see You!"

"And what do you fear the most?"

"My greatest fear is losing You."

A soul gathered to God...

what more could it desire than to love and love more,

and, burning in that love,

love You again?

I remain alone.

Why such haste?

- The Lord takes the time He needs. - I am afraid.

Afraid of what?

Afraid that my faith

is no more than pride.

Afraid of what I see,

of what I do not see.

Afraid of what I feel.

Afraid of reaching Him.

And of not reaching Him.

Afraid of myself.

Eat.

She won't. She's been thus for days.

It seems the body of Christ suffices her.

Then she'd be better in her cell.

She comes to the refectory

to parade her renunciation.

Eat!

No.

What the Lord provides suffices me.

The Lord gives this, too.

Eat.

Hardly yet a nun but she wants to be a saint...

- Enough, for God's sake. - The Lord does not want me,

Juana.

I am alone.

And alone I must stay.

Till I'm worthy of Him.

You can't go on.

You're killing yourself.

The worm dies, too,

and that death's not the end, but the beginning.

May my joy be in suffering,

my rest in unrest,

my peace in pain,

my well-being in affliction,

my love amid troubles,

my reward in the wound.

May my life be in death

and my favor in contempt,

my wealth in poverty,

my triumph in struggle,

my rest in labor

amd my happiness in sadness,

in the darkness my light,

my greatness in lowliness,

of my path the short cut,

and my glory the cross.

She is feverish and greatly so,

and her heart probably ails.

She's suffered too much chastisement.

She only prays and works.

So much mortification

is too much.

She seems to seek death.

- Salcedo, saintly gentlemen. - God!

May I?

You may and must.

- Can she hear me? - Probably.

But she does not always answer. She's weak.