Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
“Where there is no love, put love there and you will find love", taught Saint John of the Cross, Carmelite, Mystic, Reformer of the order, Doctor of the Church and Teacher of faith - both for the clergy and the laity. We celebrate his liturgical memorial on December 14.
John of the Cross wrote his great mystical works in prose and poems. The Spanish monk was a valued spiritual director. The Mystical Doctor taught that "faith is the marriage of God with the soul." He wrote his books to help believers walk towards God. He showed the steps on which the soul "walks" towards union with its Creator. The Spanish Carmelite wrote: "God desires from you even the smallest degree of purity of soul than the greatest works that you can do." Saint John explained true greatness and happiness. In his opinion, humility and self-emptying lead to them. "Whoever dies for everything will find life in everything" - wrote the Doctor of the Church. Greatness cannot be achieved without prayer, he taught.
In his works, he discussed the stages of walking towards God. In the “Ascent of Mount Carmel”, he explained the active contribution of the believer to the sanctification process, passive cleansing (Dark Night), the development of love between the bride's soul and Christ's Bridegroom (Spiritual Song) and the mystical union and foretaste of heaven's glory (Living Flame of Love).
Juan de Yepes y Alvarez was born in 1542 into a converso family (descendants of Jewish converts to Catholicism) in Fontiveros (Spain). The future monk was born into a family of poor weavers and was the third son of Gonzalo de Yepes and Catalina Alvarez. He had two brothers: Francisco and Luis. At the age of twenty, he entered the Carmelite novitiate in Medina del Campo. After a year, he made his profession and moved to study in Salamanca, where he stayed for 4 years. In 1567, he went to Medina to celebrate his first Holy Mass. In these circumstances, there he met SaintTeresa of Jesus, to whom he confessed his intention to join the Carthusians. Eventually he became an assistant to St. Teresa of Jesus in the work of reforming the Order.
Out of love for the cross of Christ, he took the name of John of the Cross. He asked God never to lack suffering. This prayer was answered. For 9 months he stayed in the religious detention in Toledo (until August 1578). In prison, he wrote, inter alia, poem “Spiritual song”. In 1579 he became the superior of the monastery in El Calvario, and the following year - the founder and rector of the college in Baeza. He lived 23 years as a barefoot Carmelite. He died on December 14, 1591 in Ubeda. In 1726, Pope Benedict XIII proclaimed him a saint, and Pius XI in 1926 - a Doctor of the Universal Church.
Saint John Paul II learned Spanish in his youth in order to be able to read the works of St. John of the Cross in the original language. The future Pope was persuaded to read his writings by Jan Tyranowski, a lay person involved in the pastoral care and education of youth.
Twice in his life Karol Wojtyła asked for permission to enter the Carmelites, the order that gave St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Teresa of Lisieux, the three greatest masters of inner life, especially of living in the inner darkness of the spirit and of the naked, unsupported faith. All three, each in their own way, also emphasized the importance of ordinary, everyday activities for "poverty in spirit" and for the love of God and neighbor. Anyone who does not see how much Wojtyla's soul is Carmelite loses a lot.
St. John of the Cross is recognized as the founder of a mystical doctrine based on his mystical experience. Many Saints were brought up on the teachings of the Carmelite Saint and we must admit that the works of saint John of the Cross cannot be omitted - there is light that will help us reach the Source.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george