St. John of the Cross | Pray for Us
Coffee / S
$30.00
Skip to product information
St. John of the Cross | Pray for Us
$30.00
Heavyweight 100% cotton shirt with a relaxed drop-shoulder fit, vintage garment wash, tonal chest embroidery, and a woven SIGNUMX interior neck label.
St. John of the Cross, the Carmelite poet, mystic and Doctor of the Church who wrote of the dark night that leads to God, is honored on December 14.
Quick Facts
| Feast Day | December 14, Memorial |
| Life & Canonization | Born 1542 at Fontiveros, Spain; died 1591 at Úbeda |
| Patronage | Mystics, contemplatives, Spanish poets, and anyone walking through a dark season |
| Symbols | The Carmelite habit, a cross, a book and quill, an eagle |
The Life of St. John of the Cross
Juan de Yepes grew up poor after his father died, working in a hospital while studying with the Jesuits. He became a Carmelite, and St. Teresa of Avila asked him to help renew the order with a life of prayer and simplicity.
In a time of great hardship he composed much of his poem The Spiritual Canticle by heart. His poems and his books, The Dark Night and The Ascent of Mount Carmel, are among the greatest writings on prayer and are treasured in Spanish literature.
Shirt Details
- Fabric: Heavyweight 100% cotton
- Fit: Relaxed drop-shoulder
- Details: Chest embroidery, woven SIGNUMX neck label
- Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low
Get to Know St. John of the Cross
Half a Friar
John was very short, and St. Teresa of Avila joked that she had found a friar and a half for her reform, counting John as the half.
The Dark Night of the Soul
His poem The Dark Night gave the world this phrase for seasons when God feels far away and is quietly drawing the soul closer.
Judged on Love
He wrote that in the evening of life we will be judged on love, words many carry as a daily reminder.
A Sketch That Inspired Dalí
John drew a small sketch of Christ on the Cross as if seen from above, and it inspired Salvador Dalí's famous painting Christ of St. John of the Cross.
Patron of Poets in Spain
His poetry is so beautiful that he is honored as the patron of Spanish poets.