Alternate titles: Juan de Yepes y lvarez, San Juan de la Cruz. A memorial Mass for the late Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O'Connell was held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Hacienda Heights, California, on March 1, 2023. Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent. [note 1] It is the period of final "unselfing" and the surrender to the hidden purposes of the divine will. ", 24. In 1572, John traveled to Avila at the invitation of Theresa to become her confessor and spiritual guide. The sonorous music is not a physical sound that vibrates the eardrum but something transcending the senses. ", 70. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. He prepared himself to offer his first sacrifice by humiliations, fasts, penitential tears, fervent prayers, and long meditations on the sufferings of our Divine Redeemer; deeply imprinting his precious wounds in his heart and sacrificing himself, his will, and all his actions with his Saviour, in raptures of love and devotion. They who love thus, die with burning ardours and impetuous flights through the vehemence of their desires of mounting up to their beloved. Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. con ansias en amores imflamada, He made vows the following year, and was sent to the university in Salamanca to study theology and philosophy. 0. Let us go to eternal life." "Lord, my God, do not turn away from those who do not turn away from you: how can they say that you are absent? Juan de Yepes y lvarez was born in Spain and entered the Carmelite Order as a young man. Leaving my cares forgotten among the lilies. "At the end of our life, we shall all be judged by charity. "To saints, their very slumber is a prayer. This storm ceased when the informations of Diego were laid before the superiors; for had they been all true, they amounted to nothing which deserved any chastisement. His wonderful love of the cross appeared in all his actions, and it was by meditating continually on the sufferings of Christ that it increased daily in his soul; for love made him desire to resemble his crucified Redeemer in all manner of humiliations and sufferings. Coming to himself from sudden raptures, he would cry out with words, as it were of fire, "Let us take wing and fly on high. OCLC971364730. Dark Night of the Soul, Whitaker House, Saint John of the Cross, Kieran Kavanaugh (1987). Elizabeth of the Trinity (2013). Ch. He founded at the same time the convent of Segovia. If you are depressed at Christmas, think of God as the Christmas star or string of lights whose light is out there whether you see it now or not. The sweetness of the divine love and peace which overflowed the soul of the servant of God all this time, filled him with interior joy, which increased in proportion as he was more abandoned by creatures. You were living in continual expectation of the rising of the Star of Jacob, by G.K. Chesterton | Dec 23, 2022 | Advent and Christmas. ", 35. The same word may recur twice within four lines of a poem with a different symbolism on each occasion. This seems the exact portraiture of the soul of our saint upon the point of leaving this world. The journey does not consist on recreations, experiences and spiritual feelings, but in the living, sensory and spiritual, exterior and interior death of the cross. As far as I'm concerned, there won't be a Beatles reunion as long as John Lennon remains dead. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. ", 23. Reform, however, caused friction within the order and led to his imprisonment, first in 1576 and again in 1577 at Toledo, where he wrote some of his finest poetry. He soon engaged them to shut up their parlours, and to cut off the scandalous abuses which were inconsistent with a religious life of retirement and penance. Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom If any be a devout lover of God, let him partake with gladness from this fair and radiant feast. ", 22. Bear the Cross cheerfully and it will bear you. The example and the exhortations of St. John inspired the religious with a perfect spirit of solitude, humility, and mortification. Catholic Encyclopedia. The same day, John changed his name again to John of the Cross. ", 72. It has been proposed that the poem was composed while John was imprisoned in Toledo, although the few explicit statements in this regard are unconvincing and second-hand.[2]. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. "Now that I no longer desire all, I have it all without desire Having nothing and possessing all things. Lord, almighty God, Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom have come to the knowledge of yourself, God of angels, of powers, of all creation, of all the race of saints who live in your sight, I bless you for judging me worthy of this day, by Catholic Saint | Feb 17, 2023 | Evangelization, Jesus Christ, Self-Knowledge, "If you become Christ's you will stumble upon wonder upon wonder, and every one of them true." The famous works of Saint John include the 'Dark Night of the Soul' and the 'Spiritual Canticle.' After a meeting with St. Teresa of Avila, he joined her attempts at reforming the order and pledged himself to a more stringently monastic and studious life than Carmelites then practiced. Words for a Christmas mom to try out, if no one is helping like they should (but dont be afraid to let them know how they should help). We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. "For how do you know if any desire of yours is according to God? In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.. ", 77. St. John, living in the practice of extreme austerities, and in continual contemplation, fell sick, and when he could no longer conceal his distemper, the provincial ordered him to leave Pegnuela, that place being destitute of all relief, and gave him the choice either to go to Baeza or to Ubeda. 3) "No matter how just your words may be, you ruin everything when you speak with anger.". A Christian should always remember that the value of his good works is not based on their number and excellence, but on the love of God which prompts him to do these things. He has been cited as an influence to many poets, mystics, and artists, even Salvador Dali. "Contemplation is nothing else but a secret, peaceful, and loving infusion of God, which, if admitted, will set the soul on fire with the Spirit of love. ceso todo, y dexeme, "It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others. It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. ", 50. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:Herbermann, Charles, ed. y el ventalle de cedros ayre daua. "Never relax, for you will not attain to the possession of true spiritual delights if first you do not learn to deny your every desire. "Silence is God's first language." -Saint John. ", 56. It was his desire to be a lay-brother, but this was refused him. the deprivation of the senses you feel in depression can be offered to God, fruitfully. ", 15. "Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it. He joined Teresa's nuns in Toledo, and spent six weeks in the hospital to recover. The journey is called "dark night" in part because darkness represents the fact that the destination "God" is unknowable, as in the 14th-century mystical classic The Cloud of Unknowing; both pieces are derived from the works of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the 6th century. These racking pains he suffered three whole months with admirable patience, in continual peace tranquillity, and joy, never making the least complaint, but often embracing the crucifix and pressing it close upon his breast when the pain was very sharp. John of the Cross calls it the Dark Night of the Soul. He was taken by force to the order's main house in Toledo. "Whoever flees prayer flees all that is good. 1. "Yearning: It needs to hurt in order to be worthy of the word. Learn interesting facts and tidbits about the beloved St. Patrick. Be ashamed when you sin. He at length cried out, "Glory be to God "; pressed the crucifix on his breast, and after some time said, "Lord, into thy hands I commend my soul"; with which words he calmly breathed forth his soul on the 14th of December, in 1591, being forty-nine years old, of which he had spent twenty-eight in a religious state. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. sali sin ser notada, The breeze blew from the turret Depression at Christmastime is a real thing, whether it comes from financial stress, busyness, loneliness, grief, or estrangement. Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. ", 47. desire its possession in nothing, To love God is therefore to be transformed into God. He answered, "Lord, I ask no other recompense than to suffer and be condemned for thy love." His father was employed by wealthy family members as an accountant, but they disowned him when he married a poor woman from the lower class. ", 33. "Beloved, all that is harsh and difficult I want for myself, and all that is gentle and sweet for thee. St. John of the Cross Quotes from John of the Cross "Strive to preserve your heart in peace; let no event of this world disturb it." "The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great light." "The soul that is quick to turn to speaking and conversing is slow to turn to God." It is also known as Nasrani Menorah, Persian Cross, or Mar Thoma Sleeva. He employed many hours every day and night in prayer, and often before the blessed sacrament, with extraordinary fervour. Stations of the Cross: Every Friday of Lent, Continue reading about St. John of the Cross, St. John of the Cross Pendant (14 Karat Gold Filled), St. John of the Cross Sterling Silver Oval Pendant, Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting: The Three Pillars of Lent. He was given a religious education from a young age and chose to follow a religious path, even as a child. The dark night of the soul, St John of the Cross (1991). ", 28. La noche oscura del alma / Credit: YouTube/St. Around 1575, a rift within the Carmelite order began to grow and create controversy between various monastic houses. Pray for your children during pregnancy. "In tribulation immediately draw near to God with confidence, and you will receive strength, enlightenment, and instruction. It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.. 44. The spirit of Christianity is the spirit of the Cross. There were in the Order two fathers of great authority, who declared themselves his implacable enemies, harbouring malice and envy in their breasts, which they cloaked under the sanctified name of holy zeal. ", 40. Love and death are so mingled in the Savior's passion that we cannot have one in our hearts without the other. A profound sentiment of religion made him bear an extreme respect to whatever belonged, even remotely, to churches, or to the service of God. The intervention of the Holy See as well as the political machinations of King Phillip II and his court, led to dramatic, even violent disagreement between the Carmelites. St. John of the Cross, Spanish San Juan de la Cruz, original name Juan de Yepes y lvarez, (born June 24, 1542, Fontiveros, Spaindied December 14, 1591, Ubeda; canonized 1726; feast day December 14), one of the greatest Christian mystics and Spanish poets, doctor of the church, reformer of Spanish monasticism, and cofounder of the contemplative If you do not learn to deny yourself, you can make no progress in perfection. The son of poor silk weavers of Toledo, John was born Juan de Yepes y Alvarez in Fontiveros. He was fed only bread and water, and occasional scraps of salt fish. "Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved. "In the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human successes, but on how well we have loved. A cell was made for him in the monastery that was so small he could barely lie on the floor. The Novena to the Magi begins December 28 (the Feast of the Holy Innocents) and ends on January 5 (the Vigil of the Epiphany). First Station: Jesus is condemned to death, Saint of the Day for Saturday, March 4th, 2023. He was punished by imprisonment. The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great light.. When you buy through the links on our site we may earn a commission. Jornada is the oldest known written document to refer to this type of cross as a Saint Thomas Cross. Other authors have made similar references: Inayat Khan states, "There can be no rebirth without a dark night of the soul, a total annihilation of all that you believed in and thought that you were.