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St.
John of the Cross
(1542-1591, Spain)
Biography Excerpt:
Juan de Yepes y Alvarez was born in the sixteenth century in Fontiveros, Spain. Inducted as a Carmelite monk at twenty-one, Juan was ordained as a priest four years later. At this time, he was called upon by his contemporary, St. Teresa of Avila, to assist in organizing a fledgling branch of the order. This offshoot, called the Barefoot Carmelites, emphasized a life of austerity and contemplation. Shortly after opening the first such ascetic monastery, Juan found himself imprisoned for his efforts to transform the Carmelites. It was in his imposed confinement that St. John wrote some of his most soulful verses.
Enlightenment Story Excerpt:
The Dark Night
(Songs of the soul that rejoices at having
reached the
high state of perfection, which is the
union with God,
by the path of spiritual denial)
On a dark night,
with the ardent longing for love afire,
oh blessed fortune!
I left without being noticed,
my house put to bed.
In the blessed night,
in secrecy, so that no one saw me,
I looked at nothing,
with no other light and guide
than that which burned within my heart....