Born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez in 1542, Saint John of the Cross became one of the greatest Spanish poets and mystics. He dedicated his life to understanding and communicating the connection between soul and God through poverty, imprisonment, and isolation.
While attending a school for 160 orphans and poor children, he chose to become an altar boy at a nearby monastery. He later studied humanities at a Jesuit school and worked in a hospital. He was ordained in 1567 with plans to join the Carthusian Order until encountering the Carmelite nun, Teresa of Ávila, while in Medina. She was in the process of founding her second convent when she convinced Saint John of the Cross to join her on her reformation project; restoring the purity of the Carmelite Order.
Not everyone was supportive of the reformation project. Tensions grew among Carmelite friars and in 1577, John was taken prisoner. Though only imprisoned until his escape in 1578, this was the time he wrote much of his poems that led to him being considered one of the best Spanish poets of all time. His isolation in his small, dark cell strengthened his understanding of finding God within himself.
John died at the age of 49 after he travelled 25,000km and founded seven monasteries. He is one of 36 Doctors of the Church and his work continues to help those who wish to achieve a pure union between the soul and Christ.
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