(1541-1591)

John is a saint because his life was a heroic effort to live up to his name: “of the Cross.” The folly of the cross came to full realization in time. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34b) is the story of John’s life. The Paschal Mystery—through death to life—strongly marks John as reformer, mystic-poet and theologian-priest.

Ordained a Carmelite priest at 25 (1567), John met Teresa of Jesus (Avila) and like her vowed himself to the primitive Rule of the Carmelites. As partner with Teresa and in his own right, John engaged in the work of reform, and came to experience the price of reform: increasing opposition, misunderstanding, persecution, imprisonment. He came to know the cross acutely—to experience the dying of Jesus—as he sat month after month in his dark, damp, narrow cell with only his God!

Yet, the paradox! In this dying of imprisonment John came to life, uttering poetry. In the darkness of the dungeon, John’s spirit came into the Light. There are many mystics, many poets; John is unique as mystic-poet, expressing in his prison-cross the ecstasy of mystical union with God in the Spiritual Canticle.

But as agony leads to ecstasy, so John had his Ascent to Mt. Carmel, as he named it in his prose masterpiece. As man-Christian-Carmelite, he experienced in himself this purifying ascent; as spiritual director, he sensed it in others; as psychologist-theologian, he described and analyzed it in his prose writings. His prose works are outstanding in underscoring the cost of discipleship, the path of union with God:

rigorous discipline, abandonment, purification. Uniquely and strongly John underlines the gospel paradox: The cross leads to resurrection,

agony to ecstasy, darkness to light, abandonment to possession, denial to self to union with God. If you want to save your life, you must lose

it. John is truly “of the Cross.” He died at 49—a life short, but full.

The handout provided for Brian Singer-Towns' "Biblical Literacy Made Easy" workshop at NCCYM 2008.  To get the downloadable audio recording of this session click here.

The presentation used during Brian Singer-Towns' "Biblical Literacy Made Easy" workshop at NCCYM 2008.  To get the downloadable audio recording of this session click here.

A supplemental handout provided for Dr. Charlotte McCorquodale's "Authorizing Lay Ecclesial Ministers" workshop at NCCYM 2008.  To get the downloadable audio recording of this session click here.

The presentation used during Dr. Charlotte McCorquodale's "Authorizing Lay Ecclesial Ministers: Issues, Models, and More" workshop at NCCYM 2008.  To get the downloadable audio recording of this session click here.

The presentation used during Dr. Maggie McCarty's "Introduction to Grant Writing" resource spotlight workshop at NCCYM 2008.

The presentation used during Paul Jarzembowski's "Young Adult Ministry Basics" preconference at NCCYM 2008.

The presentation provided for Patrick Donovan's "Using the Remote to Channel Jesus: The Sequel" workshop at NCCYM 2008.

A supplemental handout provided for Kevin Driscoll and James Chesnes "The Elephant in Your Youth Room" workshop at NCCYM 2008.

A supplemental handout provided by Kevin Driscoll and James Chesnes during the "Elephant in Your Youth Room" workshop at NCCYM 2008.

The presentation material for Kevin Driscoll and James Chesnes' "The Elephant in Your Youth Room" workshop at NCCYM 2008.  To get the downloadable audio recording of this session click here.