Saint John of5 9 the1 Cross 1 5 4 2 - 1 P ARADISE

n his Spiritual Canticle, Saint John of Still in the Ascent to Mt. Carmel the the Cross describes in great detail the Saint explains: “By their participation, effects of the soul’s union with God: “It souls possess the same gifts that God Iis simply impossible to describe what Himself naturally possesses. Their power God shares with the soul in this intimate is precisely the power of God, equal to union. Nothing can actually be expressed Him and His followers. Thus, St. Peter since it is impossible to say anything says: ‘Grace and peace be yours in fullest that would come close to what God is measure through the knowledge of God in Himself, since it is God who so gives and Jesus our Lord. His divine power Himself to a soul that is so transformed has granted to us all things that pertain from itself to Him. They become then as to life and godliness, through the knowl- two persons in one even though they edge of Him who called us to His own remain essentially and uniquely as in life, glory and excellence, by which He has as the rays of the sun through a window granted to us His precious and very great glass, as coal and fire, as the light from promises, that through these you may the stars and from the sun. Thus, so as to escape from the corruption that is in the understand how much the soul receives world because of passion and become from God in this unity, the soul can do partakers of the divine nature.’ (2 Pt 1, 2- no less, in my opinion, than to simply 4). These are the words of St. Peter. With affirm as in the following verses: I drink them, he clearly demonstrates that the from the beloved. And just as the liquid soul in God, beginning and together father. In 1563 he joined the Carmelite flows to each member of the body by with Him, accomplishes the work of the Order. After his philosophical and means of its veins, so does the dialogue Blessed Trinity as was formerly explained theological studies at Salamanca, he was of God diffuse itself to the soul, or better, in the substantial union between itself ordained a priest in 1567. In that same it is the soul that transforms itself in God, and God. If it is true that all this will be year, he met St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) a transformation which when it does verified in the next life, it is also true in who convinced him to be part of the occur, occurs at its natural stage and this life, provided it achieves that state of reform. He died at Ubeda on December spiritual potential, drawing its sustenance perfection which the soul we are describing 14, 1591. from God. In fact, it is then that the already possesses and experiences a wisdom intellect receives wisdom and knowledge, that can never be described.” the will receives the sweetest love and its memory enjoys a joy and fulfillment Saint John of the Cross was born at from its thoughtful remembrance of past Fontiveros in Spain in 1540. He was glory.” orphaned early with the death of his © Associazione Carlo Acutis