The Saints: Saint John of the Cross

1542 - 1591 / Feast - Dec. 14

This Spanish mystic, poet and doctor of the Church, was born near Avila. Hospital work led him to the priesthood and he was ordained in 1567. Teresa of Avila persuaded him to help in reforming the Carmelite order, but his work led to a harsh imprisonment by those opposing reform. In captivity John began writing poetry and continued authoring spiritual verse and treatises after his escape. In prose he explained how mind and body must be cleansed of earthly attachments in order to reach the divine.