Saint John of the Cross

Saints

Doctor of Mystical Theology

Author: Staff | Source: catholicsaints.com

Detail of a statue of Saint John of the Cross in the Plaza de las Carmelites, Beas de Segura, Jaén, Spain; date and artist unknown; photographed by Cosasdebeas on 29 November 2009; swiped from Wikimedia CommonsAlso known as

Doctor of Mystical Theology

John della Croce

John de la Croix

John de la Cruz

John vom Kreuz

Juan de Santa María de Yepes

Johannes av Korset

Memorial

14 December

Profile

Born in poverty. Cared for the poor in the hospital in Medina del Campo, Spain. Carmelite lay brother in 1563 at age 21, though he lived more strictly than the Rule required. Studied at Salamanca, Spain. Carmelite priest, ordained in 1567 at age 25. Persuaded by Saint Teresa of Avila to begin the Discalced or barefoot reform within the Carmelite Order, he took the name John of the Cross. Master of novices. Spiritual director and confessor at Saint Teresa‘s convent. His reforms did not set well with some of his brothers, and he was ordered to return to Medina del Campo. He refused, and was imprisoned at Toledo, Spain, escaping after nine months. Vicar-general of Andalusia, Spain. His reforms revitalized the Order. Great contemplative and spiritual writer. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI on 24 August 1926.

Born

24 June 1542 at Fontiveros, Spain as Juan de Santa María de Yepes

Died

14 December 1591 at Ubeda, Andalusia, Spain of natural causes relics at the Convent of the Discalced Carmelites in Segovia, Spain

Beatified

25 January 1675 by Pope Clement X

Canonized

27 December 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII

Patronage