John of the Cross

Lore & Background

He was born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez at Fontiveros, Old Castile, near Ávila. Some have claimed his was a 'New Christian' family of Converso origins, but those claims remain contested. His father died when John was around three, and his older brother died later, probably from malnourishment. His mother moved the family to Medina del Campo, where John entered a school for poor children and later studied humanities at a Jesuit school. In 1563 he entered the Carmelite Order, adopting the name John of St. Matthias, and studied theology and philosophy at Salamanca University. Teresa asked John to delay his entry into the Carthusian order and to follow her. A General Chapter ordered the total suppression of the Discalced houses, but King Philip II was supportive, and the papal nuncio Nicolò Ormaneto protected John for a time. After Ormaneto died on 18 June 1577, John was left without protection. On the night of 2 December 1577, a group of Carmelites opposed to reform broke into his dwelling and took him prisoner.

Reader's Guide

John of the Cross is significant for his role in the Counter-Reformation and the founding of the Discalced Carmelites, a reform movement that sought to return to the strict observances of the original Carmelite rule. His writings, both poetry and studies on the development of the soul, are considered the summit of mystical Christian literature and among the greatest works of all Spanish literature. His formulation of the spiritual life into the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways, separated by the dark nights of sense and soul, has been highly influential in the Catholic spiritual tradition.

Did You Know?

• He was born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez at Fontiveros, Old Castile, near Ávila.
• Some have claimed his family was of Converso origins, but those claims remain contested.
• He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1926.