Father Christopher Zugger

Glory to Jesus Christ! Hello everyone! Seems I have tons of ideas for writing but never sit down and do it! Pray for me that I be better at this.

Today winter finally came to Albuquerque – cold rain, winds, and snow on the mountains overlooking the city. We are in the third year of a severe drought, so every drop of water and snowflake counts. Not enough today, but it’s a start. Folks who lived here in the big drought of the 1950s all agree that this is much worse.

And with that weather comes physical trouble for me. So I am going to “cheat” a bit on this feast day of St. John of the Cross, and borrow text from an email sent to me.  No picture this time – a little too much for my fingers to negotiate — more next time.

Today is the Feast of Saint John Of The Cross
John was born in 1542 at Fontiveros, Spain. He entered the Carmelite community and was ordained in 1567.  With the great Carmelite mystic, Teresa of Avila, he worked for the reformation of his order, and helped found the reformed (‘Discalced’) Carmelites.  During his life, he suffered much, enduring imprisonment, humiliation and ill-treatment.  His writings are classics of both spirituality and Spanish literature.  His best-known works are the The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night of the Soul, and The Living Flame of Love.
John lived a life devoted to penance, prayer, and asceticism.  He likewise wrote and taught about the importance of detachment from all things in order to obtain freedom and union with God.
He died in 1591, was canonized in 1726 and proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 1926.

Saint John of the Cross once wrote, “We must dig deeply in Christ.  He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit.”  For John, love of Christ was inseparable from the love of the cross.  During this holy season, may John of the Cross be our guide through the dark places to the joy and light of Christmas night.