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WARNING:
These were originally intended in a "religious" sense.
Bernini's "Ecstasy of St. Theresa" -- you can't really see it from the pix, but the angel's hand is not touching her; it hovers just above her frock. Beautiful faces . . . I hope you take a moment to look up this sculpture online and get larger, clearer pix than these thumbnails permit. I think the sculpture is submission epitomized (and drawn out through masterful training).
'I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron's point there seemed to be a little fire. 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.'
Such sweet submission.
I believe this is the same woman who attempted at one time to subsist only on communion waffers. (thats one hell of a diet no pun intended)
Religious euphoria can be an allmost bdsm like painfully erotic experience.
John Donne HOLY SONNETS. XIV.
Batter my heart, three-person'd God ; for you
As yet but knock ; breathe, shine, and seek to mend ;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, to another due,
Labour to admit you, but O, to no end.
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captived, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy ;
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
that is one of the most beautiful things i have ever read.
thank you