December 14

St. John of the Cross

A sixteenth-century Spanish Carmelite priest and Doctor of the Church who co-founded the Discalced Carmelites with Teresa of Ávila and wrote masterpieces of mystical poetry — The Dark Night of the Soul, The Spiritual Canticle, and The Living Flame of Love. He was imprisoned by his own Carmelite brothers for nine months and composed poetry in his cell.

Why it matters for your parish: John of the Cross gives the Church language for spiritual dryness and desolation — his "dark night" is understood by believers at every level. Profound content for Advent, a season of waiting in darkness.

Graphics for this saint are coming soon.