"In the afternoon we shall be judged on love, learn to love as God wants to be loved and leave your condition" after wounding;
Gonzalo de Yepes belonged to a good family in Toledo, but as a young married class "lower", was disinherited by his parents and had to make a living as a weaver of silk. Gonzalo's death, his wife, Catalina Alvarez, left destitute with three children. Jitan, who was the youngest, was born in Fontiveros, in Old Castile in 1542. attended a school for poor children in Medina del Campo and began to learn the trade of a weaver, but as I had no skills, later went to work as a servant of the hospital's director of Medina del Campo. So he spent seven years. While continuing his studies at the Jesuit school, practiced corporal mortification rude. At twenty years, took the habit in the convent of the Carmelites at Medina del Campo. His religious name was Juan de San Matías. After making profession, sought and obtained permission to observe the original Rule of Caramel without using mitigations (permits to relax the rules) that several Pontiffs were approved and were then commonplace in all convents. San Juan had wanted to be a lay brother, but his superiors would not let him. Having successfully made his theological studies, was ordained in 1567. Thanks to the priesthood he was inflamed with desire for greater retirement, so they came to think of entering the monastery. Meet Santa Teresa Santa Teresa founded convents at the time of the Reformed branch of the Carmelites. When he heard of brother John, in Medina del Campo, the holy met him, he was admired for its religious spirit and said that God called to holiness in Order of Our Lady of Mount Caramel. He also noted that the general had given prior permission to establish two reformed convents for men and that he should be his first instrument in this great enterprise. Caramel reform launched Santa Teresa and San Juan was not intended to change the order or "modernize" but rather to restore and revitalize its original mission which had eased a lot. At the same time managed to be faithful to the origins, the sanctity of these reformers infused a new richness to the Carmelites who has been in his writings and example of their lives and remains a wealth of spirituality. Soon after, the foundation conducted the first convent of Discalced Carmelites, in a dilapidated house Duruelo. San Juan entered Bethlehem to perfect this new spirit of sacrifice. About two months later, he was joined by two other friars. The three renewed their vows on Sunday of Advent, 1568, and our saint took the name of Juan de la Cruz. It was a prophetic choice. Slowly spread the fame of that dark convent so that Santa Teresa was able to found another in a short time Pastrana and a third in Mansehra, where the friars moved Duruelo. In 1570, opened the convent of Alcalá, which was both the university college, St. John was appointed rector. By their example, San Juan knew inspire e1 religious spirit of solitude, humility and mortification. But God, who wanted to purify their hearts of all weakness and human attachments, was subjected to the severest tests indoors and outdoors. After enjoying the delights of contemplation, San Juan was deprived of all devotion. In this period of spiritual dryness added embarrassment, scruples and disgust for the retreat. While attacking the demon with violent temptations, men chasing him with slander. most terrible test was undoubtedly that of the unscrupulous and the interior desolation, that the saint describes in "The Dark Night of the Soul." This followed by an even more painful period of darkness, spiritual suffering and temptations, so that San Juan is felt abandoned by God. But the flood of light and divine love happened to this test, was the prize of patience with which he had supported the servant of God. Once, a very attractive woman shamelessly tempted to San Juan. Instead of using hot blight, as he did St. Thomas Aquinas on a similar occasion, Juan soft words he used to impress upon the sinner his sad state. The same method was used on another occasion, though in different circumstances, to talk sense to a lady temper so violent that the people had given him the nickname of "Robert the Devil." Glory to God In 1571, St. Teresa of obedience took the office of Superior in the convent of the Incarnation unreformed de Avila and called his side, San Juan de la Cruz to be his spiritual director and confessor. The saint wrote to his sister: "It is working wonders here. The people he is holy. In my opinion, is and always has been." Both religious and lay people seeking to San Juan, and God confirmed his ministry with miracles evident. Meanwhile, serious difficulties arose between the Discalced Carmelites and mitigated. Although higher general had been authorized to Santa Teresa to undertake the reform, the old monks saw it as a rebellion against the order, on the other hand, must be recognized that some of the bare lacked tact and exaggerating his powers and rights. As if that were not enough, the prior general, the general chapter and the papal legates, gave contradictory orders. Finally, in 1577, the provincial of Castile sent to San Juan to return to the convent at Medina del Campo. The saint refused, alleging that Avila had been assigned to the papal nuncio. Then the provincial sent a group of armed men who broke into the convent of Avila and San Juan took by force. Knowing that the people of Avila professed great reverence to the saint, he was moved to Toledo. As John refuses to abandon the reform, he was put in a narrow, dark cell and incredibly abused. This shows how little he had penetrated the spirit of Jesus Christ in those who professed to follow. Suffering and union with God San Juan's cell was about three meters long and two wide. The only window was so small and so high that the saint, to read e1 office, had to stand on a stool. By order of Jerome Tan, vicar general of the Carmelites in Spain and a consultant to the Inquisition, was beaten so viciously who kept the scars to death. What then suffered San Juan coincides exactly with the Santa Teresa penalties described in the "Sixth Stone" insults, slander, physical pain, spiritual distress and temptation to compromise. He later said: "Do not be surprised if I love a lot of suffering. God gave me an idea of \u200b\u200bits value when I was in prison in Toledo." Early San Juan's poems are like a voice crying in the wilderness, reflect your mood: Where have you hidden, Beloved , and left me moaning? As the deer run away, | I went out calling you, you were gone.
The doctrine of San Juan is fully faithful to the ancient tradition: the end of man on earth is to achieve "perfection of charity and raised to the dignity of a child of God by love," the contemplation is not in itself an end, but should lead to love and union with God by love and, ultimately, should lead to the experience of that union to which all is ordered. "There is no better or more necessary work you love," says the saint. "We were made for love." The only instrument that God uses is love. "" As the Father and Son e1 are united by love and love is the bond of the soul with God. "
founded several monasteries and at the expiration of his period of vicar, was appointed superior of Granada. Meanwhile, the idea of \u200b\u200bP. Nicholas had gained much ground and the General Chapter which met in Madrid in 1588, obtained from the Holy See a brief authorizing even more pronounced separation between the barefoot and mitigated. Despite protests from some, it deprived the venerable P. Jeronimo Gracian of all authority and was appointed vicar general Fr Doria. The province is divided into six regions, each of which appointed a consultant to help P. Gracian in the government of the congregation. San Juan was one of the consultants. Innovation wasHis love of God made his face shine on many occasions, especially when returning from celebrating mass. His heart was like a burning ember in her chest, to the point of coming to burn your skin. His experience in spiritual things, to which was added in light of the Holy Spirit did a consummate master in terms of discerning of spirits, so it was not easy to fool by saying that something came from God.
Fr Nicholas was elected provincial and chapter named John vicar general of Andalusia. The saint devoted to correct certain abuses, especially those from the fact that the monks had to leave the monastery to preach. The saint felt that the vocation of the contemplative was essentially bare. This led opposition against him. San Juan
Juan slept about two or three hours and spent the rest the night in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Tests and more tests
After the death of St. Teresa, which occurred in 1582, it became increasingly sharp division between the barefoot. San Juan supported the provincial politics of moderation, Jerome de Castro, whereas P. Nicholas Doria, who was very extreme, intended to wean completely bare of the other branch of the order.
serious discontent, especially among the religious. Venerable Anne of Jesus, who was then superior of the convent of Madrid, obtained from the Holy See a brief confirmation of the constitutions, without discussing the matter with the vicar general. Finally, a compromise was reached in that case. However, in the General Chapter of Pentecost, 1591, San Juan spoke in defense of P. Gracian and nuns.
Fr Doria, who had always believed that the saint was allied with his enemies, used the occasion to deprive him of all charges and as a simple monk sent to the remote monastery of La Peña. San Juan went there a few months in meditation and prayer in the mountains, "because I have less regard to confession when I'm in the rocks when I am among men."
But not everyone was willing to leave alone the saint, even in this remote corner. As vicar provincial, San Juan, during a visit to the monastery of Seville, was called to order two priests and had restricted his license to go out and preach. By then, the two monks underwent a consultant but the congregation traveled throughout the province taking reports on the life and conduct of San Juan, throwing charges against him, claiming he had enough evidence to expel him from the order. Many of the monks chose to go with the flow adversely Juan to tell the truth to do justice. Some came to burn their cards to avoid falling into disgrace.
Amid this storm San Juan fell ill. The province ordered him to leave the convent and gave Peñuela choose between Baeza and Ubeda. The first of these convents was better equipped and had more than one friend by the saint. In the other was superior Fr Francis, whom St. John had been corrected with the P. Diego. That was the convent chose.
travel fatigue worsened his condition and made him suffer greatly. With great patience, he underwent several operations. The top unworthy treated him inhumanely, forbade the friars who visited him, changed the nurse because she lovingly cared only allowed to eat regular food and gave even those who sent some people out. When the province was to Ubeda and learned of the situation, did his best to San Juan and so severely rebuked Fr Francisco, which he opened his eyes and looked back.
Saint and Doctor of the Church
After three months of suffering very acute, the saint died on December 14, 1591. His death
had not dissipated yet the storm that the ambition of P. Nicholas and the spirit of vengeance of P. Diego had brought against him in the congregation of which he was co-founded and whose life had been the first to go.
The saint's death brought about by the appreciation of life and both the clergy and the faithful flocked to his funeral. God wanted him to be cleared and you saw the dark real life for the edification of many souls. His remains were moved to Segovia, since the monastery had been higher than last time.
was canonized in 1726 Santa Teresa
Juan had seen a very pure soul, which God had communicated great treasures of light and whose intelligence had been enriched through the sky. The saint's writings fully justify this view of Santa Teresa, particularly the poems of "Ascent of Mount Caramel", the "Dark Night of the Soul", the "Living Flame of Love" and "Spiritual Canticle", with comments . This was recognized by the Church in 1926, the doctor proclaimed San Juan de la Cruz by his mystical works.
The doctrine of San Juan is summarized in the love of suffering and the complete abandonment of the soul in God. This made him very hard on himself, whereas the other was good, kind and condescending. Moreover, the saint does not know or fear of material things, for he said: "Natural things are always beautiful, are like the crumbs from the table of the Lord. "
San Juan de la Cruz lived away all that he preached so convincingly. But unlike other children that he was" free, as is the spirit of free God. Their aim was not the negation and emptiness, but the fullness of divine love and the substantial union of soul with God. "gathered itself in the light of Divine Wisdom ecstatic with the madness of Christ despised shaken.
Bibliographic
Source:
-Butler, Lives of the Saints Butler, Vol IV.
-Divine Office I, p. 1031
0 comments:
Post a Comment