Saint John of the Cross · 1542–1591
St John of the Cross Quotes
John of the Cross wrote poetry first and commentary afterwards, and the commentary exists to explain the poems. He is the source of the phrase dark night of the soul, which now usually means something much flatter than he meant.
On love
The line below is the one that survives him, and it is the last of his Sayings.
“In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.”
“Where there is no love, put love, and you will draw out love.”
On darkness and faith
For John, the darkness is not the absence of God but the presence of a God too bright for the senses to register.
“One dark night, fired with love's urgent longings — ah, the sheer grace! — I went out unseen, my house being now all stilled.”
“Faith is a dark night to the soul, but in this very way it gives it light.”
Quotes wrongly attributed to St John of the Cross
These circulate widely under St John of the Cross's name and are not his. They are listed here so you do not put one in a homily, a bulletin or a citation.
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