St. John of the Cross suffered much during his life, but in the midst of it all he always had his eyes fixed on Jesus.
St. John of the Cross knew he was about to die and the timing of his death coincided with his community's prayer in the chapel.
This allowed him the ability to possess a deep spiritual life, always seeking a more intimate union with God.
Much of what we know about St. John of the Cross and his inner life comes from his writings, such as The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle and The Living Flame of Love.
Last words
Pope Benedict XVI reflected on St. John of the Cross' remarkable life during a general audience in 2011, commenting on the final day of his life on earth:
John faced great suffering with exemplary serenity and patience. He died in the night between 13 and 14 December 1591, while his confreres were reciting Matins. He took his leave of them saying: “Today I am going to sing the Office in Heaven”. His mortal remains were translated to Segovia. He was beatified by Clement X in 1675 and canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726.
What Pope Benedict XVI and St. John of the Cross are referring to is the recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours, also called the Divine Office.
In particular, his fellow Carmelite monks were reciting "Matins," which was traditionally recited during the evening hours, anticipating the following day.
The Office of Readings is the closest equivalent in the modern reform of the Liturgy of the Hours.
St. John of the Cross was looking forward to singing the praises of the Psalms in Heaven for all eternity, fulfilling his lifelong desire of total and complete union with God.
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