Saint John of the Cross (San Juan de la Cruz)

Saint John of the Cross was a 16th-century Spanish mystic, poet, and Catholic friar renowned for his deep spiritual writings and efforts to reform the Carmelite Order. He is celebrated for exploring the soul’s journey toward union with God, emphasizing purification through love and dark nights of the soul—periods of spiritual testing and growth. His poetic works, like "Dark Night of the Soul," express the profound intimacy and challenges of divine love. Canonized as a saint, his teachings continue to inspire those pursuing spiritual depth, emphasizing inner transformation and reliance on grace.