St. John of the Cross Biography

Quick Facts

NAME: St. John of the Cross
OCCUPATION: Monk, Saint, Poet
BIRTH DATE: June 24, 1542
DEATH DATE: December 14, 1591
PLACE OF BIRTH: Fontiveros, Spain
PLACE OF DEATH: Ubeda, Spain
AKA: San Juan de la Cruz
AKA: Juan de Yepes y Álvarez
Full Name: Saint John of the Cross

Best Known For

St. John of the Cross was a Spanish poet whose work is considered the summit of mystical Spanish literature. He was glorified as a saint in 1726 by Pope Bendict XIII.

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St. John of the Cross

APA Style

St. John of the Cross. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 08:04, May 21, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/st-john-of-the-cross-9355607.

Harvard Style

St. John of the Cross. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/st-john-of-the-cross-9355607 [Accessed 21 May 2013].

MLA Style

"St. John of the Cross." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 21 2013, 08:04 http://www.biography.com/people/st-john-of-the-cross-9355607.

MHRA Style

"St. John of the Cross," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/st-john-of-the-cross-9355607 [accessed May 21, 2013].

Chicago Style

"St. John of the Cross," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/st-john-of-the-cross-9355607 (accessed May 21, 2013).

CBE/CSE Style

St. John of the Cross [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 21] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/st-john-of-the-cross-9355607.

Bluebook Style

St. John of the Cross, http://www.biography.com/people/st-john-of-the-cross-9355607 (last visited May 21, 2013).

AMA Style

St. John of the Cross. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/st-john-of-the-cross-9355607. Accessed May 21, 2013.

Profile

Born on June 24, 1542, in Fontiveros, Spain, St. John of the Cross was a Spanish mystic and poet. He became a Carmelite monk in 1563 and an ordained priest in 1567. A year later, he was summoned by St. Teresa of Avila to reform the Carmelite Order. However, due to resulting friction, he was imprisoned in 1576 and again in 1577. During this time, St. John began writing poetry, some of his finest work outlining the steps of mystical ascent, also known as the soul's journey to Christ. Many of his poems, including "Noche obscura del alma" ("The Dark Night of the Soul") and "Llama de amor viva" ("The Living Flame of Love"), are considered the pinnacle of mystical Spanish literature. He was glorified as a saint in 1726 by Pope Benedict XIII.