“St. John of the Cross” (detail) by Francisco de Zurbarán
“On a dark night,
Kindled in love with yearnings
— oh, happy chance! —
I went forth without being observed,
My house being now at rest.”
(St. John of the Cross; Ascent of Mount Carmel, Dark Night of the Soul, Stanza 1; translated by E Allison Peers)
The Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church (A.D. 1542 – 1591), is December 14.
