Katnut d'Katnut

St John of the Cross was one of the greatest spiritual writers and mystics of the Catholic Church as well as a great reformer (in association with St Teresa of Avila) of the Carmelite Order. In my tutorial presentation I wish to focus on the Jewish background of St John of the Cross and the influence of Jewish teachings that in a hidden manner emphasizes the Marian dimension of his writings. In this tutorial I wish to focus on his concept of the Dark Night especially referring to the second book of the Dark Night and the 16th chapter.

John was born as Juan de Yepes y Alvarez. His father Gonzalo de Yepes was of a wealthy converso (converted Jewish family) that like the family of St Teresa of Avila were silk merchants.

In order to understand the“Mystery of Christ" in regards to the Church and Sacraments we need to focus on the wider historical and theological setting of a discussion of the Sacraments and sacramental theology. This includes a special emphasis on the Paschal mystery.  I have chosen four readings as the base of my discussion of this topic.

by Brother Gilbert Bloomer

This reflection is my response to my reading in Pastoral theology. I have chosen three readings that seem to be connected for me. I read them in the light of the teachings of Emmanuel Levinas, St Edith Stein and Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. These are like three Jewish prisms that I evaluate all that I read.