Seventh Mansion — Spiritual Marriage

The Séptima Morada is the matrimonio espiritual — the permanent, irrevocable union of the soul with God in the innermost center of the Interior Castle. Teresa of Ávila distinguishes this from the transient unión of the Fifth Mansion: here the soul and God are joined as rain falling into a river, inseparable yet each retaining its nature. The ecstasies cease; a profound paz (peace) pervades all action. Teresa insists the soul now works more effectively than ever, embodying the via unitiva, because its activity flows not from self-will but from the indwelling of the Holy Trinity.