Saint John of the Cross

Lives of the Saints

by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. edition

[1894]

November 24.—ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS.

THE father of St. John was discarded by his kindred for marrying a poor orphan, and the Saint, thus born and nurtured in poverty, chose it also for his portion. Unable to learn a trade, he became the servant of the poor in the hospital of Medina, while still pursuing his sacred studies. In 1563, being then twenty-one, he humbly offered himself as a lay-brother to the Carmelite friars, who, however, knowing his talents, had him ordained priest. He would now have exchanged to the severe Carthusian Order, had not St. Teresa, with the instinct of a Saint, persuaded him to remain and help her in the reform of his own Order. Thus he became the first prior of the Barefooted Carmelites. His reform, though approved by the general, was rejected by the elder friars, who condemned the Saint as a fugitive and apostate, and cast him into prison, whence he only escaped, after nine months’ suffering, at the risk of his life. Twice again, before his death, he was shamefully persecuted by his brethren, and publicly disgraced. But his complete abandonment by creatures only deepened his interior peace and devout longing for heaven.

Reflection.—”Live in the world,” said St. John, “as if God and your soul only were in it; so shall your heart be never made captive by any earthly thing.”

Saint John of the Cross Priest and Doctor of the Church white Memorial Is 45:6c-8, 18, 21c-25/Lk 7:18b-23 (189).

https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/john-of-the-cross-649
CATHOLICISM SAINTS ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS

*St. John of the Cross.

This is a vintage illustration of Saint John of the Cross, the great sixteenth-century Carmelite reformer, theologian, and mystic. Known for his life of acceptance of the Cross and for his mystical writings, St. John is the Patron Saint of Mystics.

**John of the Cross (Spanish: Juan de la Cruz; born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez; 24 June 1542 – 14 December 1591), venerated as Saint John of the Cross, was a Spanish Catholic priest, mystic, and a Carmelite friar of converso origin. He is a major figure of the Counter-Reformation in Spain, and he is one of the thirty-seven Doctors of the Church. John of the Cross is known gratefully for his writings. He was mentored by and corresponded with the older Carmelite, Teresa of Ávila. Both his poetry and his studies on the development of the soul are considered the summit of mystical Spanish literature and among the greatest works of all Spanish literature. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726. In 1926 he was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI, and is commonly known as the “Mystical Doctor.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_the_Cross

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  

Heb 13:8