John of the Cross, born Juan de Yepes Álvarez in 1542, hailed from Fontiveros, a small town in the Crown of Castile. His early life was tough—his father passed away when he was young, leaving the family in poverty, and he spent part of his childhood in an orphanage. Despite these challenges, he received a good education, eventually studying at the Jesuit college in Medina del Campo before joining the Carmelite order in 1563.
He became a priest in 1567, and that same year, he met Teresa of Ávila, whose influence would steer the course of his life. Teresa was reforming the Carmelite order, advocating for a return to stricter, more contemplative practices. John fully committed to this effort, becoming one of the founding figures of the Discalced Carmelites—a reformed branch of the order that focused on austerity and inner prayer.
“The reform faced significant obstacles. In 1577, members of the unreformed Carmelite faction kidnapped John and locked him up in a monastery in Toledo.”
He was confined to a small cell, given little food, and subjected to regular beatings. He spent about nine months in this grim situation. During that time, or shortly after his escape, he created some of the most remarkable mystical poetry in the Spanish language, including the famous poem *Dark Night of the Soul*.
After his escape in 1578, John resumed his work with the Discalced Carmelites, eventually taking on leadership roles within the reformed order. In his later years, he wrote prose commentaries on his poems, seeking to explain the theological meanings behind the images and feelings expressed in his work. These commentaries, dense and deeply learned, established him as a significant figure in the Counter-Reformation in Spain.
