Autor/-in: St John of the Cross

St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) was a Spanish Carmelite friar, priest, poet, and mystic whose writings became central to the Christian contemplative tradition. Born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez in Fontiveros, Spain, he entered the Carmelite Order as a young man and later joined St. Teresa of Ávila in her effort to reform the order and restore a stricter life of prayer, poverty, and spiritual discipline. His commitment to reform brought fierce opposition, and he was imprisoned for several months by members of his own order. During this period of suffering and isolation, he composed some of his greatest mystical poetry. His major prose works-including Ascent of Mount Carmel, Dark Night of the Soul, The Spiritual Canticle, and The Living Flame of Love-explore purification, detachment, divine love, and the soul's gradual union with God. John of the Cross was canonized in 1726 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1926. He is remembered as one of Christianity's greatest mystical theologians and one of the finest poets of the Spanish language.