Saint John of the Cross   Father Paschasius Herz, OCD    
Saint John of the Cross was a major figure of the Counter-Reformation, a Spanish mystic, and Carmelite friar and priest, born at Fontiveros, a small village near Ávila. Saint John of the Cross was a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered, along with Saint Teresa of Ávila, as a founder of the Discalced Carmelites. He is also known for his writings. Both his poetry and his studies on the growth of the soul are considered the summit of mystical Spanish literature and one of the peaks of all Spanish literature. He was canonized as a saint in 1762 by Pope Benedict XIII. He is one of the thirty-three Doctors of the Church. Facsimile reprint of 1919 edition. [more details...]
Code: B1861        £12.95  
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St John of the Cross: His Origins   Balbino Velasco, O Carm    
St. John of the Cross - His Origins, was first published in Spanish in 2009 by Fr. Balbino Velasco, O.Carm. The book has been translated into English by Fr. Joseph Chalmers, O.Carm., Prior General of the Carmelite Order between 1995 and 2007. Fr. Joseph writes in the introduction: It is impossible to understand this spiritual genius without understanding something of where he has come from and what formed him. St. John of the Cross has been studied from virtually every angle imaginable but a sadly neglected element is his Carmelite formation and what influence that might have played on his spirituality. In this book several commonly accepted facts surrounding the early life of St. John of the Cross are challenged or shown to have no basis but it is always done in a very gentle fashion. The suggestion is that St. John's Carmelite formation has had a much more profound influence than previously imagined. From the popular series 'Carmel in the World Paperbacks'. [more details...]
Code: B1773        £11.95  
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The Practice of Contemplation According to John of the Cross   By James R. Kinn    
This book is for anyone who now meditates regularly or who practiced meditation in the past. As we grow in our prayer life, John of the Cross is an excellent and encouraging guide to show us the way to the practice of contemplative prayer. Many of us learned about mediation from spiritual directors or books. We practiced a reliable from of mediation for some years with varying degrees of success. Over time, however, our prayer slowed down and became simplified. We didn't find many new ideas to occupy our intellect and our emotions quieted down. In time, many of us experienced a crisis in our prayer life; our prayer became so simple that it almost disappeared. We tried different forms of prayer, but we seemed to be reaching a dead end. Throughout all of this, we were never told that our payer was developing naturally and positively. What we were experiencing was not a dead end but the threshold of a new way of prayer. What we needed was an experienced guide to show us the road ahead. Enter John of the Cross! He encourages us to see that the place we came to is a necessary state of our progress in prayer. John teaches us that we come to contemplation not by struggling harder to pray but by calming remaining quiet before God. He encourages us to realize that we have not come to the end of the road but are being made ready to be transported on a wonderful journey. There is no better or more encouraging guide for us on this journey than John of the Cross. The entire focus of this book is quite narrow; it concentrates on John's teaching about the beginning of contemplation. [more details...]
Code: B1570        £11.95  
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John of the Cross - Ascent to Joy   Marc Foley, O.C.D.    
In this well-crafted introduction and anthology, Fr. Marc Foley leads the reader step by step into the very heart of the spiritual way taught by John of the Cross. “The core of the teaching is developed in carefully-selected excerpts from John’s own writings. The special gift of Ascent to Joy is that these excerpts are presented in a systematic order, so that the text can function both as a primer of John’s teaching and as a profound introduction to the contemplative way. This volume fills a much-needed niche in the array of spiritual books available today. -Mary Frohlich, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL [more details...]
Code: B1540        £9.95  
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Door Through Darkness   Sr. Eileen Lyddon    
Foreword, by Jordan Aumann, O.P. In this highly readable exploration of John of the Cross, Eileen Lyddon expresses beautifully that the heart of John's mysticism is love & the focus of the spiritual life for all contemporary Christians, whatever their vocations. “If you have always wanted to delve into the writings of John of the Cross but have felt somewhat intimidated, Sister Eileen Lyddon's book is for you. Highly recommended.” -Crescat. “Lyddon succeeds in communicating not only John’s wisdom, but also his gentleness, common sense, and humanity. Both beginners and those more familiar with John will appreciate this presentation of John’s mysticism for everyday life.” -Spiritual Book News [more details...]
Code: B1543        £8.95  
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The Living Flame of Love   Elizabeth Ruth Obbard    
Those who turn to spiritual classics for guidance and inspiration often find their style daunting. The original texts still have much to offer but their diction and idiom, chosen for another era and audience, pose an obstacle to many contemporary readers. “Classics for Everyone” aims to make some of the greatest Christian works accessible to all by retelling them in modern idiom. John of the Cross, an acknowledged master of spirituality, wrote The Living Flame not for his fellow Carmelites but for a layperson, a widow whom he had befriended. He reveals that the way of union is open to everyone, an especially powerful insight for a contemporary audience. The Living Flame, short though it is, contains a complete synthesis of his teaching. [more details...]
Code: B1537        £5.95  
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15 Days with St John of the Cross   Constant Tonnelier    
This volume contains: A brief biography of Saint John of the Cross; A guide to creating a format for prayer and retreat; and 15 meditation sessions with focus points and reflection guides. Saint John of the Cross (1542–1591), Carmelite friar and Doctor of the Church, was born to a noble but impoverished family in Toledo, Spain. Showing no aptitude for a manual trade, he joined the Carmelite Order in 1563 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1567. Under the influence of Saint Teresa of Ávila, John worked to revive the primitive monastic rule, often against the wishes of religious authorities. Despite periods of imprisonment and banishment, and almost continual harassment, John persisted in his advocacy of monastic reform, and wrote many of his greatest poems and other works under extreme duress. John of the Cross is best known as one of the Church’s great mystical theologians, and the central theme of his mysticism is that through a life of pure faith and love of God, the soul may attain union with the Divine. As your retreat master and companion, John challenges you to become like Christ — to be wounded and suffer with Him, to be consumed by His presence — and thus to be emptied of self, to be purified in heart and mind, and finally to be overcome and transformed by His love. The ultimate consequence of your 15-day journey with John of the Cross may therefore be the deep mystical union with God that John placed at the center of the Christian life. [more details...]
Code: B1541        £8.95  
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The Contemporary Challenge of St John of the Cross   L. Doohan    
A clear and simple introduction to his life and teaching, stressing the practical applications for today's Christians. "A comprehensive and comprehensible framework for those beginning their study of John of the Cross." [more details...]
Code: B0278        £14.50  
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The Dark Night of the Soul - Hardback   Saint John of the Cross    
St. John takes us on a journey into ourselves, a journey of knowledge and self understanding, that encompasses our failings and imperfections. It shows us how in a place beyond words we can embrace sadness and grief, and seeking God, our lives will be turned around. He describes the “arid and dark night of contemplation” which leads us to “the knowledge of oneself and of one’s misery.” True knowledge of our self and of our condition shows how far we must go to find God, who our restless hearts incessantly seek. The Dark Night of the Soul describes how first the senses, and then the spirit undergo a series of purgation, which aids in bringing it closer to God, and eventually preparing it for union with Him. The individual soul seeks Jesus in a mystical marriage. For after the dark night, comes the joy of mystical union with God. Bonded leather hardback, with ribbon marker. [more details...]
Code: B1684        £12.95  
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The Dark Night of the Soul - PB   Saint John of the Cross    
St. John takes us on a journey into ourselves, a journey of knowledge and self understanding, that encompasses our failings and imperfections. It shows us how in a place beyond words we can embrace sadness and grief, and seeking God, our lives will be turned around. He describes the “arid and dark night of contemplation” which leads us to “the knowledge of oneself and of one’s misery.” True knowledge of our self and of our condition shows how far we must go to find God, who our restless hearts incessantly seek. The Dark Night of the Soul describes how first the senses, and then the spirit undergo a series of purgation, which aids in bringing it closer to God, and eventually preparing it for union with Him. The individual soul seeks Jesus in a mystical marriage. For after the dark night, comes the joy of mystical union with God. [more details...]
Code: B1220        £6.95  
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Introducing St John of the Cross   Kieran Kavanaugh OCD    
Booklet introducing St John of the Cross. [more details...]
Code: B0269        £2.95  
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God Speaks in the Night   Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD    
Prepared by a team of Discalced Carmelite Spanish and Italian scholars, the authors spent years of research in preparing this book, first released in 1991 in a limited edition, honouring the fourth centenary of that saint's death. Nothing can match it as a source of information about the life, times and teaching of St. John of the Cross. This beautifully presented biography is lavishly illustrated with photographs and is supplemented with articles on John's times, writings and teaching. This volume also presents an unknown side of the saint: his family background, his pastoral experience, his extensive travels and his administrative work. With beautiful colour illustrations and over 800 colour photographs. [more details...]
Code: B0280        £35.00  
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The Collected Works of St John of the Cross - paperback   Kavanaugh/ Rodriguez    
Translated by Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D., and Otilio Rodriguez, O.C.D., revised edition (1991).The fourth centenary of the death of St. John of the Cross inspired this revised edition of the English translation of his writings. The result is an edition that preserves the true meaning of the great mystic's writings, presents them as clearly as possible, and at the same time gives the reader the doctrinal and historical information that will lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the teachings of the Mystical Doctor. Included in The Collected Works are St. John's poetry, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle, and The Living Flame of Love, as well as his letters and other counsels. There is a general introduction for the entire work and brief, enlightening introductions for each specific work, explaining theme and structure. Enhancing these are the new footnotes, glossary of terms, and index. [more details...]
Code: B0498        £19.50  
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Words of Wisdom For Our World:   S. Muto    
The Precautions and Counsels of John of the Cross [more details...]
Code: B0279        £7.50  
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Reflections: St John of the Cross       
Eighteen reflections from the Spiritual Canticle of St John of the Cross. Illustrated with B&W photographs related to St John including Salamanca, Segovia, etc. [more details...]
Code: B0880        £2.50  
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Saint John of the Cross - booklet   Carmel, Newry    NEW
Booklet introducing St John of the Cross [more details...]
Code: B1313        £1.50  
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Saint John of the Cross: The Story of a Carmelite   Booklet    
Short introductory booklet on the Life of Saint John of the Cross, written by Carmelite sisters. Includes the first 15 stanzas of the Spiritual Canticle. [more details...]
Code: B0947        £1.50  
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