St. John of the Cross
Dec 14
Patron Saint of Mystics, Contemplatives and Spanish Poets
John’s father, Gonzalo de Yepes, was of a prominent family in Toledo, Spain. At his marriage to a poor girl, Catherine Alvarez, he was disinherited, and tried his hand at the silk-weaving trade. When Gonzalo died young, Catherine was left destitute with three young sons, John being the youngest.
Sent to a poor school in Medina, John found work at the city’s hospital, and there labored for seven years.