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Today is feast day of Saint John of the Cross. Since he’s one of my favorites, I figured I would write a little about him.

Saint John was born June 24, 1542 to poor family in Spain. Throughout his childhood and adolescence, he knew he was destined to serve God and the Church. He was ordained a priest in 1567, while in the Carmelite order. Later Saint Teresa of Avila persuaded him to join her in beginning the discalced reform in the Carmelite order. Since this did not sit well with many in the order including his superiors, he was imprisoned for disobedience. Saint John spent nine months imprisoned in a small cell. During this time he was visited daily by heavenly consolations. He eventually escaped in a manner that has been described as miraculous. Saint John died Dec 15, 1591. He was canonized Dec 27, 1726.

Saint John left us three great legacies.

First, his reform of the Carmelite order became what we now know as O.C.D. (Order of Carmelites Discalced).

Second were his writings, all of which are still studied today by those seeking a mystical spirituality that comes from meditation and contemplative prayer.

Third was his deep faith and Christian piety. Although he was poorly treated by his peers throughout most of his life, he never held a grudge and always had mad love for all those around him.

Saint John of the Cross, in the darkness of your worst moments, when you were alone and persecuted, you found God. Help me to have faith that God is there especially in the times when God seems absent and far away. Amen