14th. December - MEMORIAL of ST JOHN OF THE CROSS

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BarbaraTherese

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It is the 14th. December here in South Australia and the feastday of St. John of The Cross. St. John for me is a great saint to petition for perseverence in Faith in difficulty of any kind, to follow the way of Prayer and of Spirituality and to realize God’s Plan for one’s life with faithfulness.
I know we have a few lay Carmelites here on CAF and also those who have great devotion to St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of The Cross and all Carmelite saints…I greet you all and sundry joyfully today!

Happy feastday of St. John of The Cross wherever you may be when that date comes up for you:wave: …

Barb:)
 
Do you have any good links to read more on this great saint?

I own the dark night of the soul - although I cannot say I understand it. But I often find myself in tears when I hear “Holy Darkness” a hymn based on this book -

Also, one time I was hearing a reading of his spiritual canticle and I was not understanding anything and I prayed to the Holy Sprit to help me understand and then my heart opened and his words of longing for God where my words and I started crying so much at how much he understood me, I still did not “get it” intellectually, but in some level the Holy Spirit helped us connect. The other ladies in the room probably thought I was crazy.😊

God bless,
 
Here is a list of his counsels and degrees of perfection:
carmelite.com/saints/john/works/couns.htm

I was attracted to these two, for if practiced well, they avoid a lot of bickering that often results in anger and a lack of charity in tryng to prove a point. And of course, I am always right! 😛 😃
  1. Never interfere in what you are not ordered to do, or be obstinate about anything, even though you may be right. And if, as the saying goes, they give you an inch, do not take a mile. Some deceive themselves in such matters and think they have an obligation to do that which - if they reflect upon it well - in no way obliges them.
  2. Pay no attention to the affairs of others, whether they be good or bad, for besides the danger of sin, this is a cause of distractions and lack of spirit.
 
Joysong said:
  1. Never interfere in what you are not ordered to do, or be obstinate about anything, even though you may be right. And if, as the saying goes, they give you an inch, do not take a mile. Some deceive themselves in such matters and think they have an obligation to do that which - if they reflect upon it well - in no way obliges them.
  2. Pay no attention to the affairs of others, whether they be good or bad, for besides the danger of sin, this is a cause of distractions and lack of spirit.
Click to expand...
I fully agree with the above quote.
My spiritual director often talks about “boundary” that is in line with the above saying. In our last conversation, I mentioned one of my children sometimes miss Sunday Mass due to other activities. SD said I should not say anything because it is between the person and God. I am kind of puzzled with that. As a parent, I think it is my responsibility to advise my children when I see things not right even they are grown up. I will surely ask him to clarify that in our next meeting. Any (name removed by moderator)ut?
 
Hi InLight,

I had the sense that St. John was speaking about those who do not have the vocation of authority, whether as a parent, superior, abbot, pastor, etc. Sometimes we get the feeling that we are responsible for all the failings of others that we chance upon and then set about righting them with our words.

I was reading Psalm 37 this week and reflecting on “Be not vexed over evildoers; Commit to the Lord your way, trust in Him and He will act. Leave it to the Lord and wait for Him. Give up your anger and forsake wrath; be not vexed it will only harm you.”

And then, oddly enough, I read the epistle of 1st Peter and found this good advice: "Servants, be subject to your masters in all fear, not only to the good and moderate, but also to the severe. This is indeed a grace, if for consciousness of God, anyone indures sorrows, suffering unjustly.

This morning, there was a program on St. John of the Cross’s life, and while I knew he suffered extreme brutality from his fellow ‘religious,’ I did not realize that in his last illness, he had even more cruelty to endure from one who had a streak of jealous remembrance over St. John’s words to him in the past. He certainly lived his advice completely to the end. It makes me marvel, for I see how often I fail in the above exhortations.

But as for instructing our children who are in our care, we have a necessary duty to instruct them, and that is urgent upon us. As for when they are grown? Not sure there, InLight. For my own part, I usually remain on the quiet side, and have felt guilty a few times for not speaking up. There is a very serious matter that I’m aware of with my adult child, and I probably should speak out. So serious, I’m sure her conscience knows the wrong of it. Nevertheless, I am awaiting the Lord’s perfect timing and praying for guidance, lest I confirm her in that wrong by jumping in with four feet.
 
Joysong said:
Here is a list of his counsels and degrees of perfection:
carmelite.com/saints/john/works/couns.htm

I was attracted to these two, for if practiced well, they avoid a lot of bickering that often results in anger and a lack of charity in tryng to prove a point. And of course, I am always right! 😛 😃
  1. Never interfere in what you are not ordered to do, or be obstinate about anything, even though you may be right. And if, as the saying goes, they give you an inch, do not take a mile. Some deceive themselves in such matters and think they have an obligation to do that which - if they reflect upon it well - in no way obliges them.
  2. Pay no attention to the affairs of others, whether they be good or bad, for besides the danger of sin, this is a cause of distractions and lack of spirit.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the link above and for the interesting (name removed by moderator)ut from yourself and InLight…mine is a case of the lurkinghttp://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15_1_63.gif
and reading - with interest and being the learner…
 
I hope, Rosa, that these may be something like what you may be looking for (I am pushed for time just now). I have quite a few documents on file, these caught my eye and are reputable commentaries. Again, others may be more helpful. I dont seem to have on file a good biography of St. John.

Embodied Love in John of The Cross
ourgardenofcarmel.org/johnembodied.html

Baltimore Carmel
Study Guide for the Ascent of Mt. Carmel – John of The Cross
geocities.com/Wellesley/1561/ascent3.html

Ernest E. Larkin – O.Carm
Contemplation and St. John of The Cross
carmelnet.org/larkin/larkin017.pdf

These quotations from St. John caught my eye:
Quotation from St. John of the Cross
gogoodnews.net/cgi-bin/subscriptions/mail.cgi/archive/blessings/20070119200004/

Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in the darkness God protects the soul. Cast your cares upon God, for you are his and he will not forget you. Do not think he is leaving you alone.
  • St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)
  1. The fly that clings to honey hinders its flight, and the soul
    that allows itself attachment to spiritual sweetness hinders its
    own liberty and contemplation.
 
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