Collected here in this omnibus edition entitled The Essential St. John of the Cross are all three of St. John of the Cross' major works as well as twenty of his magnificent poems.
The Ascent of Mount Carmel is the third major work of St. John of the Cross and is considered to be the introductory work on mystical theology.
Dark Night of the Soul is one of the greatest religious poems ever written.
The Essential St. John of the Cross is a masterpiece of Mystic Christianity which examines faith and how to keep faith when all seems lost. Think of The Essential St. John of the Cross as guide to making it through the dark night of the soul to the brighter, happier, faith filled tomorrow that awaits.
In A Spiritual Canticle of the Soul and the Bridegroom Christ, St. John states: "I do not purpose here to set forth all that greatness and fullness the spirit of love, which is fruitful, embodies in it. Yes, rather it would be foolishness to think that the language of love and the mystical intelligence - and that is what these stanzas are - can be at all explained in words of any kind, for the Spirit of our Lord who helps our weakness."
St. John of the Cross is a Doctor of the Church.
