St. John of the Cross

Saint John of the Cross

Confessor & Doctor of the Church

John was born to a poor Spanish family in the year of Our Lord 1542. For seven years he served in a hospital for the poor while studying under the Jesuits, until he joined the Carmelites at the age of twenty-one. John received permission to follow the strict original Carmelite rule of life, and within a few years was ordained a priest. Suddenly feeling overwhelmed by the grave responsibility, he nearly left the order for that of the Carthusians, but he was persuaded to remain by St. Teresa of Ávila, who was leading her own reform of the Carmelite nuns, known as the Discalced Carmelites. John agreed to help do the same for the Carmelite friars, and took the new name “John of the Cross”. For several years he served as confessor for St. Teresa’s convent. Confusion and excessive zeal sometimes endangered the Carmelite reforms, but John persevered in the face of much persecution, including months of unjust imprisonment, while also writing invaluable spiritual works, including the famed Dark Night of the Soul and Ascent of Mount Carmel. John died in the year of Our Lord 1591, and became known as the “mystical doctor” for his spirituality. He is also celebrated on December 14th.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for November 24th

ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS, confessor, whose birthday [into heaven] is the 14th of December.

The same day, the birthday [into heaven] of St. Chrysogonus, martyr. After a long imprisonment in chains for the constant confession of Christ, he was by order of Diocletian taken to Aquileia, where he terminated his martyrdom by being beheaded and thrown into the sea.

At Rome, St. Crescentian, martyr, whose name is mentioned in the Acts of the blessed pope Marcellus.

At Amelia, in Umbria, during the persecution of Diocletian, St. Firmina, virgin and martyr, who, after being subjected to various torments, to hanging, and to burning with flaming torches, yielded up her spirit.

At Corinth, St. Alexander, martyr, who fought unto death for the faith of Christ, under Julian the Apostate and the governor Sallust.

At Cordova, the saintly virgins and martyrs Flora and Mary, who were for a long time confined in prison and slain with the sword, in the persecution of the Arabs.

At Perugia, St. Felicissimus, martyr.

At Milan, St. Protasius, bishop, who defended the cause of Athanasius before the emperor Constans, in the council of Sardica. Having sustained many labors for the church entrusted to him and for religion, he departed this life to go to the Lord.

In the castle of Blaye, St. Romanus, a priest, whose holiness is proclaimed by glorious miracles.

In Auvergne, St. Portian, an abbot, who was renowned for miracles in the time of king Theodoric.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.