Love & Beauty in St John's Spiritual Canticle

Celebrating the centenary of St John of the Cross as Doctor of the Church Led by Fr Matthew Blake, OCD 2026 marks the centenary of the declaration of St John of the Cross as a a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1926. He was described by Pope Benedict XVI as “one of the most important lyric poets of Spanish literature”, whose works “describe a sure path to achieving holiness, the state of perfection to which God calls all of us”. This retreat will therefore offer an opportunity to reflect in particular on St John’s Spiritual Canticle, one of the most celebrated of his poetic writings. The themes of beauty and of love, eloquent in their expression of the attractive power of the Bridegroom who calls each soul to respond to Him in love, will be the focus of this reflection.