For St. John of the Cross, poetry served as the privileged expression of his mystical experience. His enduring relevance lies in the unique convergence of his roles as poet and theologian, the autobiographical nature of his poetry, and the symbolic power of his language–all of which enable him to give voice to the ineffable. St. John’s amorous poetry, imbued with transcendent optimism, continues to speak with remarkable freshness and vitality. As a result, we can read and experience him not only as a voice from the past, but as a poet who continues to speak to the existential and spiritual crises of our own time.

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