OCDS Apostolate to Catholic Parishes PART THREE: SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS

Presentation Outline: Revised June 20, 2001
St Louis OCDS Community
Clayton, Missouri

OCDS Apostolate To: Catholic Parishes

PART THREE: SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS

a] INTRODUCTION

1] St. John of the Cross is one of the great poets and literary figures of 16th century Spain

2] He is regarded by the Church as her greatest and safest Mystical Theologian

3] He ranks with St. Thomas Aquinas as one of the Church's greatest teachers

4] St. John of the Cross is the Mystical Doctor of Love

5] Major Works: The Ascent of Mount Carmel, Dark Night of the Soul, Spiritual Canticle, and Living Flame of Love

b] BIO-SKETCH

1] John de Yepes was born in 1542 at Fontiveros and entered the Carmelite Order in 1563

2] In 1568 he became, at St. Teresa's suggestionn, the first friar of the Order's reform, taking the name of John of the Cross

3] He was a heroic defender of the reform for the rest of his life

4] He died at Ubeda in 1591, and from that time he has enjoyed great esteem for sanctity and for the spiritual wisdom to which his writings testify.

5] Saint John of the Cross was canonized in 1726 and named a Doctor of the Church in 1926

c] SPIRIT AND SIGNIFICANCE

1] Mystical Contemplation: The supernatural experience of God, in love

2] Union with Thomism: The ultimate framework of knowledge

3] The practical science of contemplation and spirituality

4] The direct path to God: Prayer and Detachment

5] Among the greats of Spanish Literature

d] THE LIFE OF FAITH

1] The definition of the Theological Virtue of Faith is in two parts: Faith is a gift of God, and the perfection of the intellect

2] St. Paul teaches, "that it is impossible to please God without faith, since anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and rewards those who seek him." [Hebrews 11:6]

3] St. John of the Cross teaches that union with God can only be accomplished by faith and love, and gives the three steps of the journey;

4] First, departure which is the "Mortification of the Senses"

5] Second, the journey through "the Dark Night of Faith" and

6] Three, arrival in Union with God which is described as "inexpressible joy"

e] TEACHING EXCERPTS

1] God and God alone is our beatitude

2] The only proximate means of union with God are by faith and love

3] If one is serious, one will have the habitual desire to imitate Christ in all things

4] Whoever flees prayer flees all that is good

5] Seek in reading and you will find in meditation; knock in prayer and it will be opened to you in contemplation