The status of images were debated by medieval theology as there was a fear of the possible seductive character of images. Among the common people of the parishes images were far more popular than texts — and far more accessible — so in order to gain control over this powerful emotional trigger a lot was written on how to create, read and use images in churches. She is a bit "late", but this quote by Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) would have been a good read for both Gregory the Great (540-604) and St. Bernard (1051-1153). Both suggested quite a strict use of art and images in Christian devotion and favored the use of "mental images".

"I had so little ability to represent things in my mind, except for what I could see. I could profit nothing from my imagination, [unlike] other persons who can see things in their minds wherever they pray...for this reason I was such a friend of images. Unhappy those who by their fault lose this good! It surely seems that they do not love the Lord, for if they loved him, they would delight in seeing his portrait, just as one is still happy to see someone one loves dearly" (quote from J. Kienschnick, "Material Culture" in The Oxford handbook of Religion and Emotion, 2008, p. 227)

This portrait of Teresa of Avila is according to Wikipedia made by an unknown artist, but Bernini made a famous sculpture of The Extacy of St. Teresa of Avila in Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome. I guess it is fair to say that she herself became a loved image.