Carmelite podcast reveals St John of the Cross as prophet for our times
Today, 14th December, marks one of the principal feast days of the Discalced Carmelite Order, the Solemnity of their Holy Father John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church.
John was born at Fontiveros in Spain some time around 1542. He entered the Carmelites and with the permission of his superiors began to live a stricter life. Afterward, he was persuaded by Saint Teresa to begin, together with some others, the Discalced reform within the Order; this cost him much hard work and many trials. He died in Ubeda in 1591, outstanding in holiness and wisdom, to which his many spiritual writings give eloquent witness.
Among the Church’s contemplatives, St. John is one of the acknowledged masters of mystical theology. Indeed, perhaps no other writer has had greater influence on Catholic spirituality. He was a prolific writer, his works include poetry and spiritual books including The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night of the Soul, The Spiritual Canticle, and The Living Flame of Love.
Countless pilgrims over the centuries who have sought to find spiritual pathways to a great closeness with God have read the words that St John has left us, and his insights reveal a man who – though the great struggles and sufferings of his life – found a profound peace in his trust of God’s infinite wisdom.
The great third world theologian Fr Gustavo Gutiérrez once said that whenever he had to give answers to the most difficult and haunting questions posed by his people in Peru, he always felt at ease relying on St John of the Cross. He said the answers that John gives us were quite simple, but profound: God made us loveable; God has linked himself to us in lasting love; and Love alone is the solution.
St John himself took much inspiration from the prophet Isaiah, on whose example and message the Carmelite Order was founded. Isaiah reveals God telling us:
“You are precious in my eyes, you are honoured and I love you” (Is 43:4).
As a prophet and comfortring hand for the problems of the modern age there is no better spiritual guide than St John of the Cross. In every respect a diminutive figure of his life and times, his greatness comes down to us through his utter trust in God’s wisdom, and his love for Him in return.
The Carmelite Friars of Boars Hill in Oxford have a very special devotion to St John of the Cross and for today’s Solemnity Fr Clement Obiorah, OCD has just recorded a podcast exploring the spirituality of this great Carmelite saint.
“The saints of Carmel express one underlying conviction, that our desire for God is first of all awakened by God’s desire for us,” says Fr Clement.
“And each time we turn our eyes to God in faith, it is on the basis that His loving gaze is constantly upon us with the whole affection and power of his person as Father. Fostering freedom to reciprocate this loving intimacy sums up John of the Cross’s life and legacy.”
If you would like to learn more about St John of the Cross, listen here …