Catholic Saints St. John of the Cross
Dec 14, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Scott Heffelfinger, a professor at the Augustine Institute and a scripture scholar, delves into the life and teachings of St. John of the Cross. He shares insights about John's challenging yet profound spirituality and the significance of his mystical poetry. The conversation touches on John's nuptial imagery, linking it to St. John Paul II's marriage theology. Dr. Heffelfinger also explores the themes of attachment, purification, and the transformative power of divine love represented by fire, making St. John’s teachings captivating and relevant today.
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Austerity As Radical Love
- St. John of the Cross's strict tone reflects a wholehearted preference for God over lesser goods.
- His austerity is the flip side of being consumed by love for Christ and total self-gift.
Family Sacrifice Shaped His Imagination
- John grew up with a story of his father sacrificing wealth to marry a peasant, and his father's early death left a strong imprint.
- That family story framed John's imagination of love as costly and formative for his nuptial imagery of the soul's union with God.
Nuptial Language Explains Spiritual Union
- Celibate mystics like St. John of the Cross use nuptial language because love underlies both marriage and the spiritual life.
- Their intimate knowledge of divine love lets them illuminate truths about human marriage and total self-gift.