Works by St. John of the Cross
- Ascent of Mount Carmel
Description:
One of St. John of the Cross' most important and insightful works, Ascent of
Mount Carmel is a brilliant work of Christian mysticism. Considered one of the
great Spanish poets, St. John depicts the soul's ascent to Mount
Carmel--allegorically, the place of God--and the "dark night" that
the soul must endure to reach it. St. John describes the different mystic
experiences the soul encounters on its way to union with God through the dark
night. Although St. John continues to describe the dark night in Dark Night of
the Soul, the sequel to Ascent of Mount Carmel, this book provides a hauntingly
beautiful, profound, and mystical account of Christian spirituality. It is
highly recommended.
Tim Perrine
CCEL Staff Writer
It also now comes with a beneficial introduction to
Ascent of Mount Carmel, an
outline of St. John's life, and an introduction to St. John's works.
- Dark Night of the Soul
Description:
A sequel and continuation of Ascent of Mount Carmel, the Dark Night of the Soul
is a spiritually moving and mystical book. In it, St. John of the Cross
continues his description of the soul's journey--the "dark night"--to
the "divine union of the love of God." A poet at heart, St. John describes the
journey and the union with beautifully rich and deeply symbolic language.
However, St. John does not simply describe the journey; he seems at times to be
offering encouragement and comfort directly to readers as they too struggle
with the excruciating dark night. Offering hope to the downtrodden and
discouraged, the Dark Night of the Soul is one of the most difficult books a
person can read, but its difficulty is surpassed by its reward. One of the most
profound works of Christian mysticism, this book is highly recommended for
those seeking union with God.
Tim Perrine
CCEL Staff Writer
It now also comes with a helpful introduction and extensive notes.
- Spiritual Canticle of the Soul and the Bridegroom Christ
Description: History knows St. John of the Cross, Carmelite friar and priest during the Counter-
Reformation, not just as an iconic spiritual figure, but also one of Spanish literature.
This poem of forty stanzas tells the story of the soul’s search for Christ. In it, the soul is
portrayed as a bride searching for her bridegroom after having become separated from
him. Overall, the poem loosely follows the narrative of Solomon’s Song of Songs and can
serve as an allegorical reading thereof in light of the Gospel. It is interesting to note that
one can even read the poem as an early Spanish translation of Solomon’s Song of Songs
, as translations of the Bible into the vernacular were forbidden at the time. Even so, this
poem is not nor does it claim to be a translation, but rather a literary interpretation.
Kathleen O'Bannon
CCEL Staff
