[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fIulBjTnpXzDlar8VTsPeQgWV3ZUHr79ZdNIHwdxy6hU":3,"$fkOHhrJGD444D7q1XxCs5o0L5YpFTehF3sjONuLU5zC4":52},{"author":4,"tags":51},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":10,"bio_jsonld":11,"slug":49,"image_url":50},205137,"John of the Cross","J",62,"A Castilian friar, Catholic priest, and mystic of the sixteenth century, John of the Cross was born on 4 July 1542 in Fontiveros and died on 14 December 1591 in Úbeda.\n\nEducated at the University of Salamanca, John worked as a friar and Catholic priest whose writing was composed in the Spanish language. He was recognized as a Doctor of the Church, a designation preserved in institutional records, including his entry in the Library of Congress Name Authority File as \"John of the Cross, Saint, 1542–1591.\" His roles as poet, writer, and librettist reflect the range of literary forms through which he pursued his vocation.\n\nAmong his notable works are the Spiritual Canticle and the Cantar del alma que se huelga de conocer a Dios por fe, both composed in Spanish. These works belong to a body of output shaped by mystical inquiry and expressed through poetry, consistent with his standing as a mystic whose literary activity operated across verse and related forms.","A Castilian friar, Catholic priest, and mystic of the sixteenth century, John of the Cross was born on 4 July 1542 in Fontiveros and died on 14 December 1591 in Úbeda.",{"@graph":12,"@context":48},[13,25],{"@id":14,"name":6,"@type":15,"sameAs":16,"birthDate":22,"deathDate":23,"description":24},"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q190388","Person",[14,17,18,19,20,21],"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_the_Cross","https://viaf.org/viaf/4041150869802122190008/","https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79063706","https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL51769A","https://d-nb.info/gnd/118640038","1542-07-04","1591-12-14","Spanish mystic and Roman Catholic saint (1542–1591)",{"@type":26,"author":27,"headline":30,"isBasedOn":31,"mainEntity":32,"reviewedBy":33,"articleBody":9,"dateCreated":34,"dateModified":35,"additionalProperty":36,"creativeWorkStatus":47},"Article",{"name":28,"@type":29},"Editorial Team","Organization","John of the Cross — biography",[14,17,19,20],{"@id":14},{"name":28,"@type":29},"2026-05-24T03:37:12.185020+00:00","2026-05-24T03:45:00.897567+00:00",[37,41,44],{"@type":38,"value":39,"propertyID":40},"PropertyValue","Q190388","wikidata",{"@type":38,"value":42,"propertyID":43},"1.000","factscore",{"@type":38,"value":45,"propertyID":46},"claude-sonnet-4-6-r1","draftModel","AI-drafted, auto-published","https://schema.org","john-of-the-cross",null,[],{"quotes":53,"pagination":117},[54,62,69,75,81,87,93,99,105,111],{"id":55,"quote_text":56,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":59,"source":60,"quote_tag":61,"commentary":50},3161223,"The window of the soul cleansed perfectly and made completely transparent by the divine light.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"id":63,"quote_text":64,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":65,"source":66,"quote_tag":67,"commentary":68},3161222,"Though the path is plain and smooth for men of good will, he who walks it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty, if he does not have good feet: that is, courage and a persevering spirit.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],"**The Backstory**\nThis quote is attributed to St. John of the Cross, a 16th-century Spanish mystic and poet who wrote extensively on spirituality and personal growth. At the time he penned this passage, John was imprisoned by his own order for his unorthodox views, enduring physical hardship and spiritual isolation. His writings from this period reflect his struggle to reconcile his faith with the harsh realities of life.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nWhat's often overlooked is that the quote doesn't merely emphasize the importance of courage and perseverance; it also subtly criticizes the idea that spirituality should be easily accessible or effortless. John suggests that even those with good intentions may find themselves stuck if they lack the resilience to navigate life's challenges, implying a more nuanced understanding of spiritual growth.\n\n**How to Use This**\nWhen facing obstacles in your own path, rather than assuming you simply need more motivation or faith, reflect on whether you're cultivating the \"good feet\" necessary for progress: are you developing a courageous and resilient spirit, capable of withstanding setbacks and persevering through difficulties?",{"id":70,"quote_text":71,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":72,"source":73,"quote_tag":74,"commentary":50},3161221,"They say, “God told me”, or “God replied to me”. And yet most of the time they are talking to themselves.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"id":76,"quote_text":77,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":78,"source":79,"quote_tag":80,"commentary":50},3161220,"The eternal tide flows hid in Living Bread. That with its Heavenly Life too be fed...",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"id":82,"quote_text":83,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":84,"source":85,"quote_tag":86,"commentary":50},3161219,"The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"id":88,"quote_text":89,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":90,"source":91,"quote_tag":92,"commentary":50},3161218,"Take God for your spouse and friend and walk with him continually, and you will not sin and will learn to love, and the things you must do will work out prosperously for you.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"id":94,"quote_text":95,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":96,"source":97,"quote_tag":98,"commentary":50},3161217,"The virtuous soul that is alone and without a master is like a long lone burning coal; it will grow colder rather than hotter.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"id":100,"quote_text":101,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":102,"source":103,"quote_tag":104,"commentary":50},3161216,"Abide in peace, banish cares, take no account of all that happens, and you will serve God according to his good pleasure and rest in him.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"id":106,"quote_text":107,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":108,"source":109,"quote_tag":110,"commentary":50},3161215,"The soul of one who serves God always swims in joy, always keeps holiday, is always in her palace of jubilation, ever singing with fresh ardor and fresh pleasure a new song of joy and love.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"id":112,"quote_text":113,"author_id":5,"source_id":57,"has_image":58,"author":114,"source":115,"quote_tag":116,"commentary":50},3161214,"The purest suffering bears and carries in its train the purest understanding.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":49,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":50},{},[],{"currentPage":118,"totalPages":119,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":120},1,7,10]