St. John of the Cross was a doctor of mystic theology, and (along with St. Teresa of Avila) the founder of the Discalced Carmelites. He served as the spiritual director and confessor for the entire convent under St. Teresa’s rule. His mystic writings include The Ascent of Mount Carmel and The Dark Night of the Soul (favorite writings for my dh; I prefer reading about St. John in books like Fire of Love.

Saint John of the Cross, in the darkness of your worst moments, when you were alone and persecuted, you found God. Help me to have faith that God is there especially in the times when God seems absent and far away. Amen