Walking with the Saints l St. John of the Cross, Patron Saint of the Mystics and the Contemplatives l December 14
Our Saint for today id St John of the cross, a mystic. He is
called the “Mystical doctor of the Church.” A mystic is a person, who, through contemplation and surrender to God’s holy will seek to obtain union with the Almighty. St John is the patron saint of the mystics and contemplatives. He was born on 1542 at Fontiberos, old Castle, Spain. He was name Juan de Yepes y
Alvarez, and was the descendant of Jews converted to Catholicism. His Father came from a wealthy family, but when He married a woman of a lower class, his family disowned him, so he humbly worked with her as a weaver, John’s Father died when
he was three and his mother took him and his brother to another place to find a better work.
John became an altar boy, then worked at the hospital and studied philosophy and theology at a Jesuit School. In 1563, he became a Carmelite monk and took a name John St Matthias. He was ordained priest in 1967. His plan to Join the Carthusians did not materialize when He met Teresa of Avila, who at that time was trying to reform the women Carmelites. Teresa asked him to assist
her restoring the Carmelites to its original observances and austere life. The new rule of the reformed order was more strict and stern. It required long prayer, fasting, abstinence ad silence during the day, and a new rule to avoid covered shoes. These observances distinguished them as the “Discalced Carmelites” or barefoot.
John followed the new rule and opened a new monastery for Carmelite’s friars in 1568, and another in 1570. He changed his name to John of the Cross after seeing the vision of Jesus Crucified. When Teresa became the prioress of another foundation, John Became it’s spiritual director. The reform caused
great tension among the friars. John was accused of disobedience and was imprisoned, was flogged once a week before the community. HE had no clothes to change with, was given meager food and his room had no light at night. On August 15, 1578, he manage to escape but because of his weak body landed in the hospital where he stayed for six months. Due to the opposition. They requested the Pope to separate from the
rest of the order. In the reformed order, John help high offices and founded seven new monasteries. He became counsilor to the vicar general, but disagreeing about discipline, he was removed from his post. He was placed in an isolated monastery where he fell ill and died on December 14, 1591. Since he had many admirers, his remains was divided into several parts: a leg here, an arm there, the head, the torso, etc. St John is considered as one of the finest Spanish poets. His Masterpieces are: SPIRITUAL CANTICLE – the bride (soul), searching for the bridegroom (Christ), whom she lost, and the joy of their reunion; the second
is DARK NIGHT IN THE SOUL- the difficulties and sufferings of the soul in detaching from its bodily form to union with God. His other poems are “Living flame of Love and “Ascent to Mt Carmel.”
love of God, Humility, patience, fortitude, forgiveness St John, Humble and faithful lover of God, guide us in conquering our
self-love and help us to seek union with God with great patience and fortitude. Teach us how to forgive those who hate and despise us.
Reflection: Am I seeking God or my self- gratification in my prayers and practices of piety? Can I willingly forgive those who have done me wrong and made me suffer?
