Guest guest Posted February 20, 2003 Report Share Posted February 20, 2003 dear ebert, a precise piece. thank you. hope this will encourage reading of his works among group members. joseph oommen --- Gabriele Ebert <g.ebert wrote: > John of the Cross, OCD, Priest Doctor (RM) > Born in Fontiveros, Spain, June 24, 1542; died 1591; > canonized 1726; named Doctor of the Church in 1926. > Feast day formerly on November 24. > Born Juan de Yepes the son of a silk weaver in > Toledo, Spain, John was apprenticed to that trade in > his youth. Soon he realized that this was not his > calling and took a position at the hospital in > Medina del Campo, where he worked for seven years as > he studied at the University of Salamanca. > > He became a Carmelite in 1563, was ordained in 1567, > and had decided to join the Carthusians when he met > Saint Teresa of Avila, who persuaded him to remain a > Carmelite and reform the order from within, rather > than running away. > > In 1568, with two other Carmelites, he founded the > first Carmelite reformed monastery at Duruelo, the > beginning of the Discalced (shoeless) Carmelites, > and took the name John of the Cross. At Teresa's > request, he served as spiritual director of her > Convent of the Incarnation at Avila from 1572 to > 1577. > > So powerfully did St. John support the attempts made > by St. Teresa of Avila to reform the Carmelite > monasteries of Spain that the general of the > Carmelites had him imprisoned in 1577 and again in > 1578. The first time, he had refused the order of > the provincial of Seville to return to Medina, and > was imprisoned in Toledo. He spent nine months there > are was subjected to great pressure to repudiate the > reform but he steadfastly refused and finally > managed to escape. > > While in prison, John experienced visions and began > his writing. In intense poems and his other mystical > writings, John of the Cross set out the schema of a > Christian's mystical ascent to God. In his greatest > work, The Dark Night of the Soul, the saint > describes how a mystic loses every early attachment, > passing through a personal experience of Jesus's > crucifixion to a rhapsodic union with God's glory. > To pass through this darkness is, he says, 'a > fortunate adventure to union with the Beloved.' He > also wrote Spiritual Canticle while in prison. > > He, Teresa, and their fellow reformers were finally > successful in their efforts, and the Discalced > Carmelites were formally recognized as a separate > province. > > The saint never hesitated if one of his monks needed > some remedy. While he was at Baeza a monk suffered > from terrible attacks of nausea. John asked the > doctor if there was any remedy to cure the man. > Though the doctor said the expensive medicine would > provide only relief and not a cure, John bought it > at once and served it to the sick man himself > (manuscript in the library of Madrid). > > At the beginning of his priorship at Baeza, the > community was in the grip of a malignant type of > influenza. John's first act as prior was to order > the purchase of meat. He served it himself to the > sick people and reassured those whose consciences > were upset at the thought of taking meat. He > lengthened their hours of recreation and entertained > them with amusing stories as well as with spiritual > reflections, but excusing his levity by saying that > he wanted to relieve their suffering (manuscript in > the National Library in Madrid). > > After serving as head of the college at Baeza, John > was prior at Los Martires near Granada in 1581-84 > and probably finished Living Flame of Love and > Ascent of Mount Carmel while there. > > In the fourth chapter of the first book of The > Ascent of Mount Carmel, St. John of the Cross wrote: > "Every appetite for the things of the world must be > mortified, for in the eyes of God they are but > darkness;" and being darkness they are obstacles and > "screens" that shut out the divine light and prevent > it from filling the Christian soul. > > Indeed, when compared with the infinity of God, > one's animal existence is nothing. The soul that > loves nothingness will itself become nothing, for > love is the principle of assimilation and > resemblance. To love nothingness is to lower oneself > to the level of nothingness. It is self-destruction. > > > The saintly and somewhat terrifying doctor developed > his thought without making us the slightest > concession--people who enjoy suffering will find > plenty of opportunity in his works! > > At the end of Chapter 13 he wrote: "If you wish to > master all those passions which bind you to > worthless things, you must unceasingly dedicate your > soul not to that which is more enticing, but to that > which is more insipid; not to that which pleases, > but to that which displeases; not to that which > consoles, but to that which gives sorrow; not to > that which gives rest, but to that which gives work; > not to that which is more, but to that which is > less; not to that which is higher and more precious > but to that which is lower and less precious; not to > want something, but to not want anything; not to > seek that which is better in things but that which > is worse; and, for the love of Christ, to want to > assume an utter nakedness, an absolute poverty, and > a perfect indifference to everything that is in the > world." > > Yes, it's terrifying, even if it is > exalting--terrifying for our poor little souls. Many > say that St. John is obviously writing only for > great and noble souls; but, perhaps, they are > intended for all except those who abdicate greatness > in advance. > > As prior of Los Martires, St. John chose for himself > the worst room in the oldest part of the monastery. > Apart from the boards on which he slept, the only > things in his cell were a wooden cross, a picture of > Our Lord, a Bible, and a breviary. But the cell also > had a little window looking out onto the garden, and > St. John would often stand there for a long time in > prayer. Father Louis de Saint-Ange often found him > there admiring the flowers in the garden by day and > the stars in the sky by night (manuscript in the > Vatican). > > Brother Brocard of St. Peter's relates that St. John > enjoyed the beauties of nature and often took his > monks with him out into the open countryside, either > to pray among the rocks and woods or to relax by > working in the fields, or simply just to go for a > walk, for John was very human. Everybody would set > out together across the fields, along with a few lay > friends and benefactors. They usually stopped by a > small spring and had a light picnic on the grass. > John generally took nothing, but he liked to > entertain his monks (manuscript at Ubeda). > > To a monk who asked him why he sent them out so > often, John replied: "I'm afraid that you might want > to run away if I left you shut up in the monastery > for too long." But these outings were contemplative. > Both by word and example, St. John led his monks in > prayer. As soon as they arrived at a beautiful place > John began to sing the praises of the wonders of > creation that were spread out before him. He went > into raptures over the beauties of nature, which > were a reflection of divine beauty. He saw God > reflected in the flowers of the field (manuscript in > the Vatican). And yet he later wrote: "It is all > ugliness." > > One day he took his monks to the bank of a river, > and while they enjoyed themselves in cheerful > recreation, St. John sat at the water's edge and > watched the little fish flashing about in the clear > water. Suddenly he called to his companions: "Come > and see these little creatures of God. How well they > worship the Almighty!" Seized with divine > enthusiasm, the saint gradually lost consciousness > and went into ecstasy. The monks withdrew in silence > (manuscript in the Vatican). > > This austere saint--"terrible, bleeding, his eyes > cold and dry"-- nevertheless pampered his brothers > when they were sick. If one of them had no appetite, > John would at once buy the finest delicacies and try > to tempt him with them. While prior at Granada, he > offered a convalescent all sorts of tidbits, and > when the patient refused them, he said: "Very well, > my son. I'll prepare something special for you > myself and use one of my own recipes." He sent for a > small fowl, which he lovingly prepared himself and > then served it to the sick man. "I'm sure you'll > find it good," he said. The patient devoured the > dish with a good appetite (History, Fr. Jerome of > St. Joseph). > > For a time St. John was reconciled to the general of > his order. He became vicar provincial of Andalusia > in 1585 and three years later prior at Segovia, and > established several new monasteries in the next few > years. > > St. John also loved the little people. The barber of > Segovia, an honest man who was deeply impressed by > the poverty of the monks, refused any payment for > his services and was even reluctant to take a meal > at the monastery, fearing that his portion might > belong to one of the monks. One day he tried to > leave === message truncated === Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2003 Report Share Posted February 20, 2003 dear ebert, a precise piece. thank you. hope this will encourage reading of his works among group members. joseph oommen --- Gabriele Ebert <g.ebert wrote: > John of the Cross, OCD, Priest Doctor (RM) > Born in Fontiveros, Spain, June 24, 1542; died 1591; > canonized 1726; named Doctor of the Church in 1926. > Feast day formerly on November 24. > Born Juan de Yepes the son of a silk weaver in > Toledo, Spain, John was apprenticed to that trade in > his youth. Soon he realized that this was not his > calling and took a position at the hospital in > Medina del Campo, where he worked for seven years as > he studied at the University of Salamanca. > > He became a Carmelite in 1563, was ordained in 1567, > and had decided to join the Carthusians when he met > Saint Teresa of Avila, who persuaded him to remain a > Carmelite and reform the order from within, rather > than running away. > > In 1568, with two other Carmelites, he founded the > first Carmelite reformed monastery at Duruelo, the > beginning of the Discalced (shoeless) Carmelites, > and took the name John of the Cross. At Teresa's > request, he served as spiritual director of her > Convent of the Incarnation at Avila from 1572 to > 1577. > > So powerfully did St. John support the attempts made > by St. Teresa of Avila to reform the Carmelite > monasteries of Spain that the general of the > Carmelites had him imprisoned in 1577 and again in > 1578. The first time, he had refused the order of > the provincial of Seville to return to Medina, and > was imprisoned in Toledo. He spent nine months there > are was subjected to great pressure to repudiate the > reform but he steadfastly refused and finally > managed to escape. > > While in prison, John experienced visions and began > his writing. In intense poems and his other mystical > writings, John of the Cross set out the schema of a > Christian's mystical ascent to God. In his greatest > work, The Dark Night of the Soul, the saint > describes how a mystic loses every early attachment, > passing through a personal experience of Jesus's > crucifixion to a rhapsodic union with God's glory. > To pass through this darkness is, he says, 'a > fortunate adventure to union with the Beloved.' He > also wrote Spiritual Canticle while in prison. > > He, Teresa, and their fellow reformers were finally > successful in their efforts, and the Discalced > Carmelites were formally recognized as a separate > province. > > The saint never hesitated if one of his monks needed > some remedy. While he was at Baeza a monk suffered > from terrible attacks of nausea. John asked the > doctor if there was any remedy to cure the man. > Though the doctor said the expensive medicine would > provide only relief and not a cure, John bought it > at once and served it to the sick man himself > (manuscript in the library of Madrid). > > At the beginning of his priorship at Baeza, the > community was in the grip of a malignant type of > influenza. John's first act as prior was to order > the purchase of meat. He served it himself to the > sick people and reassured those whose consciences > were upset at the thought of taking meat. He > lengthened their hours of recreation and entertained > them with amusing stories as well as with spiritual > reflections, but excusing his levity by saying that > he wanted to relieve their suffering (manuscript in > the National Library in Madrid). > > After serving as head of the college at Baeza, John > was prior at Los Martires near Granada in 1581-84 > and probably finished Living Flame of Love and > Ascent of Mount Carmel while there. > > In the fourth chapter of the first book of The > Ascent of Mount Carmel, St. John of the Cross wrote: > "Every appetite for the things of the world must be > mortified, for in the eyes of God they are but > darkness;" and being darkness they are obstacles and > "screens" that shut out the divine light and prevent > it from filling the Christian soul. > > Indeed, when compared with the infinity of God, > one's animal existence is nothing. The soul that > loves nothingness will itself become nothing, for > love is the principle of assimilation and > resemblance. To love nothingness is to lower oneself > to the level of nothingness. It is self-destruction. > > > The saintly and somewhat terrifying doctor developed > his thought without making us the slightest > concession--people who enjoy suffering will find > plenty of opportunity in his works! > > At the end of Chapter 13 he wrote: "If you wish to > master all those passions which bind you to > worthless things, you must unceasingly dedicate your > soul not to that which is more enticing, but to that > which is more insipid; not to that which pleases, > but to that which displeases; not to that which > consoles, but to that which gives sorrow; not to > that which gives rest, but to that which gives work; > not to that which is more, but to that which is > less; not to that which is higher and more precious > but to that which is lower and less precious; not to > want something, but to not want anything; not to > seek that which is better in things but that which > is worse; and, for the love of Christ, to want to > assume an utter nakedness, an absolute poverty, and > a perfect indifference to everything that is in the > world." > > Yes, it's terrifying, even if it is > exalting--terrifying for our poor little souls. Many > say that St. John is obviously writing only for > great and noble souls; but, perhaps, they are > intended for all except those who abdicate greatness > in advance. > > As prior of Los Martires, St. John chose for himself > the worst room in the oldest part of the monastery. > Apart from the boards on which he slept, the only > things in his cell were a wooden cross, a picture of > Our Lord, a Bible, and a breviary. But the cell also > had a little window looking out onto the garden, and > St. John would often stand there for a long time in > prayer. Father Louis de Saint-Ange often found him > there admiring the flowers in the garden by day and > the stars in the sky by night (manuscript in the > Vatican). > > Brother Brocard of St. Peter's relates that St. John > enjoyed the beauties of nature and often took his > monks with him out into the open countryside, either > to pray among the rocks and woods or to relax by > working in the fields, or simply just to go for a > walk, for John was very human. Everybody would set > out together across the fields, along with a few lay > friends and benefactors. They usually stopped by a > small spring and had a light picnic on the grass. > John generally took nothing, but he liked to > entertain his monks (manuscript at Ubeda). > > To a monk who asked him why he sent them out so > often, John replied: "I'm afraid that you might want > to run away if I left you shut up in the monastery > for too long." But these outings were contemplative. > Both by word and example, St. John led his monks in > prayer. As soon as they arrived at a beautiful place > John began to sing the praises of the wonders of > creation that were spread out before him. He went > into raptures over the beauties of nature, which > were a reflection of divine beauty. He saw God > reflected in the flowers of the field (manuscript in > the Vatican). And yet he later wrote: "It is all > ugliness." > > One day he took his monks to the bank of a river, > and while they enjoyed themselves in cheerful > recreation, St. John sat at the water's edge and > watched the little fish flashing about in the clear > water. Suddenly he called to his companions: "Come > and see these little creatures of God. How well they > worship the Almighty!" Seized with divine > enthusiasm, the saint gradually lost consciousness > and went into ecstasy. The monks withdrew in silence > (manuscript in the Vatican). > > This austere saint--"terrible, bleeding, his eyes > cold and dry"-- nevertheless pampered his brothers > when they were sick. If one of them had no appetite, > John would at once buy the finest delicacies and try > to tempt him with them. While prior at Granada, he > offered a convalescent all sorts of tidbits, and > when the patient refused them, he said: "Very well, > my son. I'll prepare something special for you > myself and use one of my own recipes." He sent for a > small fowl, which he lovingly prepared himself and > then served it to the sick man. "I'm sure you'll > find it good," he said. The patient devoured the > dish with a good appetite (History, Fr. Jerome of > St. Joseph). > > For a time St. John was reconciled to the general of > his order. He became vicar provincial of Andalusia > in 1585 and three years later prior at Segovia, and > established several new monasteries in the next few > years. > > St. John also loved the little people. The barber of > Segovia, an honest man who was deeply impressed by > the poverty of the monks, refused any payment for > his services and was even reluctant to take a meal > at the monastery, fearing that his portion might > belong to one of the monks. One day he tried to > leave === message truncated === Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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