How to read St John of the Cross?

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A few years ago, I came across a website that described what seemed like a really good method for studying the writings of St John of the Cross. Now that I feel more ready for that challenge, I can’t find the same website. Any suggestions?
 
When reading St John of the Cross it is important to differentiate between his practical methodologies for the spiritual life and spiritual growth and his mystical poetry, very often they are describing the same thing in different terminology.
St John is a mystic and his mystical poetry can be challenging. Firstly, read the poem, as such and enjoy the poetry: the visual aspects, the feeling of the setting, the sounds, sights and environment he introduces. He is speaking of the soul’s ascent to God, to spiritual marriage; this marriage is not achieved overnight, in fact it is a long and, sometimes, arduous process. Understanding the poem and meditating upon the poetry is a step by step process. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you, upon whatever stage of the ascent you are on. As you proceed upon the path the mystical language will resonate more and more. The two symbols: the darkness and the cross, are figurative of union with Christ, of suffering but also of faith, which impatiently reaches for God, with longing, in the midst of unknowing. When you realize that the dark night is not a burden but rather a gift then you will crave the closeness to Christ that the way of darkness brings. In this we realize that the ineffable light of God is darkness to our mortal eyes, the eyes of the soul. It is about abandonment, abandonment to a loving God, abandonment to the Crucified Christ Who thirsts for us, abandonment to the all-powerful love of the Blessed Trinity.

God is not a thing to be seized, rather He is the Beloved seeking the Lover. In seeking God, God strips us of all encumbrances, until we stand before Him naked: as Christ was made naked for love of us. It is invaluable to seek the clarification and thoughts of students of Saint John; for me “The Science of the Cross” by St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) was monumental in beginning to understand the holy father John. Also, read about the Saint’s life, the sufferings he underwent, the journey he made, where he was at each stage of his life as he wrote his great works. When you connect his personal life and the environment in which he lived with the works themselves you gain a greater appreciation for the gravity and the power of his awe inspiring words. Peace be with you.
 
The Collected Works of St John of the Cross by by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD and
Otilio Rodriguez, OCD, is the best translation.

Each stanza in the poems has commentary which is clear for our contemporary minds.

My favorite is the Living Flame of Love, by St John of the Cross.

Jim
 
Casilda said:
This publisher has a reprint of E. Allison Peers’ translation of Ascent of Mt. Carmel, also the 1946 edition of St. Teresa of Avila’s autobiography

store.doverpublications.com/0486468372.html
Click to expand...
Allison Peers, translations of both St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross are older translations and more difficult to read.

My Secular Order Carmelite Group, OCDS, used the translation by by Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD and Otilio Rodriguez, OCD from ICS Publications instead.

Jim
 
My T.O.C. community is using The Ascent of Mount Carmel: Reflections

Foley,Marc O.C.D. Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 2013.

This is intended as a supplement to St. John’s Ascent, not a substitute. However, so far I have found it helpful.
 
The Collected Works of Edith Stein
VI
THE SCIENCE OF THE CROSS
Edith Stein Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Discalced Carmelite Translated by Josephine Koeppel, O.C.D. Edited by Dr. L. Gelber and Romaeus Leuven, O.C.D.

Stein, Edith. The Science of the Cross (The Collected Works of Edith Stein Vol. 6) (Kindle Locations 3-5). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.

A must read.

Peace
 
Like St. Therese of Lisieux, I found the writings of the great Carmelite mystics to be of limited value. Why did John of the Cross become a great saint? This is what one should focus on. Was it not that he loved God with all his soul, heart, mind, and strength? If so, the next question is how did he manage to do this. Did he not sweep clean his “holy temple” so that the Holy Spirit could dwell within him and guide him? Is this not the goal of Contemplative Prayer?

The key which I found most important was actually found in “The Cloud of Unknowing” which states that Contemplative Prayer requires that we despise this world. My personal belief is that we cannot at the same time love the things of this world and be a Contemplative mystic.

Let me suggest that you cleanse your “holy temple” using Centering Prayer, and then be guided by the Holy Spirit.

The book that St. Therese of Lisieux seemed to love next to the Holy Bible was “The Imitation of Christ,” which I recommend greatly. I would also highly recommend viewing “The Stations of the Cross” by Saint Francis of Assisi. youtube.com/watch?v=oZ9om4YElns

Do not take what I just said to mean that you should not read St. John of the Cross, but to the contrary do read his writings but with an open mind on what really made him a great saint!

(On 6 December, 1273, he laid aside his pen and would write no more. That day he experienced an unusually long ecstasy during Mass; what was revealed to him we can only surmise from his reply to Father Reginald, who urged him to continue his writings: “I can do no more. Such secrets have been revealed to me that all I have written now appears to be of little value.”
-Saint Thomas Aquinas)
 
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