St John of the Cross
BORN: 24th Jun 1542
DIED: 14th Dec 1591
St John of the Cross teaches us more about the Carmelite life of prayer than any other writer. He is the Mystical Doctor of Divine Love, and he guides and leads us by the paths of contemplation where he himself had experienced sublime grace. His poetry is unsurpassed in its musical language and beauty of imagery, such as the mountain, the fire and the love song, in words that breathe longing and love. In addition, he gives us lengthy commentaries on his main poems, The Ascent of Mount Carmel and The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle and the Living Flame, which expand and describe in detail the stages of prayer, illuminating and challenging us at the same time.
From Dark to Light
John moves from Dark Nights to Light-filled Days on this journey of the soul in search of the Beloved, the Bridegroom, to come to rest in Him. The suffering he endured from the poverty of childhood, and later the imprisonment and jealousy of some of his own Order, purified him for God’s work and made him gentle and understanding with those around him, patient and ready to help them through their trials.
Theological Education
He was educated at the University of Salamanca in the tradition of the great medieval scholars and proficient in philosophy and theology. Most of all he was familiar with the scriptures, quoting both Old and New Testaments freely. Filled with the overwhelming love of Christ he liked to dwell upon the mysteries of the Trinity and the Incarnation, the Christ we meet in the Gospels and in St Paul. In his desire to live a more dedicated life he was considering transferring to an Order of stricter observance until he met St Teresa of Avila.
Teresa, Mentor and Friend
She immediately recognized in him the person of learning and integrity needed for the reform of the Carmelites, although at the time he was only half her age. Later she entrusted him with the direction of her nuns. It was a work of faith in which virtues were the building blocks and here John was absolutely reliable.
The Birthing of the Spiritual Canticle in Toledo Prison
Then there were nine long months locked in a Toledo prison, enduring extremes of cold and heat through winter and summer, humiliation, starvation and misjudgment from his own brethren, a time when his soul was being hollowed out and purified, testing his spirit in every way. He had nothing but faith to cling to and in doing so he saw that God was leading him with a higher purpose, beyond any human plan. The poem of the Spiritual Canticle was the song of his heart, composed in the confined prison cell and he lived every line as it matured in darkness to become more intense. In the stifling summer heat John knew his physical strength was waning and he devised a plan to escape. His work was not complete — he must continue and support others who might be searching for meaning in their suffering where God is hidden. It is a participation in the Paschal Mystery of death to life.
The Trinitarian Mystery
John has taught us how such mysteries overshadow our lives, so that faith must become a steadfast base and hope must lead to fulfillment of transforming love. As a witness and friend of God, who is both transcendent and close, John revealed infinity hidden in the Trinitarian Mystery.
Jesus Christ, the Word and revealer, lives in our world by the power of His Resurrection. On our journey of life, faith is the light in the night. We must believe in God’s love, creating and recreating in His unique and personal love for each one.
Prayer & Contemplation
Above all John was a man of prayer and he led others to grace and blessings through prayer and contemplation. His love and respect for others made him a dedicated spiritual director of great perception and sensitivity and he spared no effort, travelling long distances on foot to give the Sacraments and instruct the Nuns and Friars, filling them with encouragement and joy.
Today we have far more advantages and opportunities to gather wisdom, but four centuries ago John penetrated depths and communicated mystical understanding from its source, because his was the purity of heart which sees God.
Books by St John of the Cross and other authors are available from the Carmelite Monastery
The Spiritual Canticle (40 stanzas, 200 lines)
The Dark Night ( 8 stanzas, 40 lines)
The Living Fame of Love (4 stanzas, 24 lines)
The Spring (11 stanzas, 35 lines)
The Young Shepherd (5 stanzas, 20 lines)
On the Trinity and the Incarnation (310 lines)
On Psalm 137 (6 poems, 957 lines)
The Sayings of Light and Love
The Precautions
The Letters
The Ascent of Mount Carmel (A structured and theological work)
The Dark Night (Complementing The Ascent and revealing the meaning of the Poem)
The Spiritual Canticle (On Communion of the Soul with Christ)
The Living Flame of Love (Commentary on the Poem, exalted love and glory)
The Collected Works of St John of the Cross – 1 volume – by ICS Publications.
Love Awakened by Love: The Liberating Ascent of Saint John of the Cross by Mark O’Keefe, OSB.
The Impact of God: Sundays from St John of the Cross by Iain Matthew, OCD.
Seasons of the Heart by Iain Matthew, OCD.
In Context: Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross & their World by Mark O’Keefe, OSB.
God Speaks in the Night: Life, Times and Teaching of St John of the Cross – Edn Silvano Giordano. Translated by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD.
Healed by Love: Contemplation as a Path of Healing according to St. John of the Cross by Daniel Chowning, OCD.
The Dark Night: A New Guide by Mark Foley, OCD.
The Living Flame of Love: Study Edition by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD.
John of the Cross: Man and Mystic by Mark O’Keefe, OSB.
Learned Experienced and Discerning: On Spiritual Direction by Mark O’Keefe, OSB.