Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591) is one of only 33 “Doctors of the Church”―of whom there are only three Carmelites. A contemporary of fellow-Spaniard and Carmelite, Saint Teresa of Avila, he is considered one of the great mystics in the Western Church, one of the glories of Spain and the Carmelite order. This devotional book is made up of his sayings from his masterpieces The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle and The Living Flame of Love, all edited and translated by Fr. Kavanaugh in Paulist Press's Classics of Western Spirituality series. In this little gem of a book, for each day of the year there is a thought on which to dwell, pray, or meditate. What makes this book unique is that it can can be picked up on ANY day of the year and the reader can appreciate the chosen thought. If you miss a day, the book will always be applicable for ANY and EVERY day of the year regardless of your circumstances. This is the perfect pocket-/purse-sized gift book for those who have a devotion to St. John and to Carmelite spirituality in general. †
St. John of the Cross (Spanish: Juan de la Cruz), born June 24 1542, Juan de Yepes Álvarez, was a major Counter-Reformation figure, a Spanish mystic, Catholic saint, Carmelite friar and priest. He was a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered, along with St Teresa of Ávila, as a founder of the Discalced Carmelites. He's also known for his writings. Both his poetry & his studies on the growth of the soul are considered the summit of mystical Spanish literature & a peak of all Spanish literature. He was canonized as a saint in 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII. He is one of the 33 Doctors of the Church. (less)