This is a timeline of the life of St John of the Cross
I find a timeline helps me a great deal to better understand the Saint and their spirituality. The saint themselves are influenced by the culture and sentiments happening in the church in their day. It is important to understand what they are up against. For instance we see that St John was imprisoned by his fellow monks. I always found this quite horrifying! Then there is the results of the Reformation and the Counter-reformation. We must also acknowledge that each person, whether saint or sinner, is on earth to do the Will of God. They fulfill their Christian Duty, especially the “Spiritual Works of Mercy.”
1542 – Birth
- June 24, 1542: Born as Juan de Yepes y Álvarez in Fontiveros, Spain.
- Born into poverty; his father died when John was very young, and his family struggled financially.
1559–1563 – Early Education and Religious Calling
- Studied at a Jesuit school and worked in a hospital for the poor.
- In 1563, at age 21, he entered the Carmelite Order, taking the name John of St. Matthias.
1564–1567 – Further Studies and Vows
- Studied at the University of Salamanca, a major theological centre at the time.
- Ordained a priest in 1567.
1567 – Encounter with St. Teresa of Ávila
- Met St. Teresa of Ávila, who had begun reforming the Carmelite Order.
- She convinced him to help with the male branch of the Discalced Carmelites, promoting a return to prayer, austerity, and the primitive Carmelite Rule.
- He took the new name: John of the Cross.
1577–1578 – Imprisonment and Spiritual Crisis
December 2, 1577 – Imprisonment
- Imprisoned by his fellow Carmelite friars in Toledo, Spain.
- The unreformed branch of the Carmelites (Calced) opposed the Discalced reform.
- They kidnapped and imprisoned him in a monastery cell — a tiny space with no light, poor food, and harsh treatment.
- He was accused of disobedience and attempting to separate from Carmelite authority.
Duration:
- He was imprisoned for about nine months, until August 1578.
Why it matters:
- During this dark and painful time, he composed some of his most profound mystical poetry, including portions of the Spiritual Canticle.
- His imprisonment became a crucible of purification — shaping the theology of the Dark Night of the Soul.
Escape:
- He miraculously escaped his cell by loosening the lock and lowering himself down a wall with a rope of knotted bedclothes.
1578–1591 – Writing and Spiritual Direction
- After escaping, he joined the Discalced Carmelites again and continued his work of reform.
- Became a spiritual director, writer, and superior in various Carmelite houses.
- He wrote his four major works:
- The Ascent of Mount Carmel
- The Dark Night of the Soul
- The Spiritual Canticle
- The Living Flame of Love
1581 – The Discalced Carmelites were officially recognized as a separate province.
1591 – Death
- December 14, 1591: Died at age 49 in Úbeda, Spain, after a painful illness.
Posthumous Recognition
1675 – Beatified by Pope Clement X
1726 – Canonised by Pope Benedict XIII
1926 – Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI, for his profound contribution to mystical theology and Christian spirituality.
Quotes from St. John of the Cross
1. On the Dark Night and Trust in God
“In the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.”
– Spiritual Canticle
This poetic line captures the paradox of mystical purification: in times when we feel most abandoned or confused, God is often most deeply at work within the soul.
2. On Detachment and Love
“To come to enjoy everything, desire to enjoy nothing.
To come to possess everything, desire to possess nothing.
To arrive at being all, desire to be nothing.”
– Ascent of Mount Carmel
This is classic John of the Cross — his teaching that only through letting go of our attachments can we be filled with God. A hard teaching, but a deeply liberating one.
3. On Suffering as Purification
“God leads the soul by ways it does not understand, and it can never reach its goal by following a path of its own choosing.”
John’s own imprisonment taught him that God’s ways are mysterious. We often want clarity, but sanctity comes by trust, not by understanding everything.
4. On the Soul’s Journey Toward Union
“The soul that is quick to turn to speaking and conversing is slow to turn to God.”
– Sayings of Light and Love This is a gentle nudge toward silence and contemplation — reminding us that stillness creates the space for God to speak.
5. On the Goal of the Spiritual Life
“At the evening of life, we shall be judged on love.”
– Sayings of Light and Love
This famous line is one of his most quoted — simple, sobering, and consoling all at once. It’s an echo of 1 Corinthians 13 and a beautiful reminder of what really matters.
6. On God’s Presence in Darkness
“If a man wants to be certain of the road he treads on, he should close his eyes. He must walk in the dark.”
