St. John of the Cross - the Saint of the Day

This is for those who are interested in and or familiar with the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar.

Image Source: The Carmelites

Today is the feast day of St. John of the Cross (1542-1591), the Carmelite reformer under the mentorship and support of St. Teresa of Avila. The Carmelites, or the Discalced Carmelites as reformed by St. John of the Cross, was originally established on Mt. Carmel under the rule of strict asceticism and prayer in the life of monastic community (click here to read the story I wrote about their origin, A Deserter's Tale on Mt. Carmel). The two saints worked together to reform Carmelite monasteries in the late 16th century, a time of great transitions coincided with the Protestant Reformation in Europe.

The Catholic Online gives great detail about his life, conversion, work and writings. I was inspired by reading about the time he was imprisoned by the monks who were opposing the reform movements by him and St. Teresa. Here's the quote:

"After John joined the Carmelite order, Saint Teresa of Avila asked him to help her reform movement. John supported her belief that the order should return to its life of prayer. But many Carmelites felt threatened by this reform, and some members of John's own order kidnapped him. He was locked in a cell six feet by ten feet and beaten three times a week by the monks. There was only one tiny window high up near the ceiling. Yet in that unbearable dark, cold, and desolation, his love and faith were like fire and light. He had nothing left but God -- and God brought John his greatest joys in that tiny cell." 

The legacy of St. John of the Cross is immense through his mystical writings. The Dark Night of the Soul is still considered one of the masterpieces of Spanish literature. Many spiritual writers have been influenced by him including Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, and Pope John Paul II of the 20th century. He drew his famous Crucifixion, "From Above," after his mystical encounter with Christ during his prayer. This sketch influenced Spanish surreal artist, Salvador Dali.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Here's another quote I liked from The Ascent of Mount Carmel, another masterpiece of St. John of the Cross:

"Faith is a dark night for man, but in this very way it gives him light."