A Spiritual Canticle of the Soul and the Bridegroom Christ

'A Spiritual Canticle of the Soul is St. John of the Cross s most famous work. Composed mainly while he was imprisoned for refusing to follow his superior s orders, the poem reflects the suffering and punishments he endured at that time, sufferings that would influence all of his subsequent work. In A Spiritual Canticle of the Soul, the poet uses the metaphor of a bride and groom separated and then reunited to represent the soul and Jesus Christ. This richness of imagery has led some to declare this work to be one of the finest ever written in Spanish. Includes the complete poem, followed by a detailed explanation of each line and phrase. Spanish mystic and poet ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS (1542 1591) played a major role in the Catholic Reformation of the 16th century, and produced several renowned writings, including his Spiritual Canticle, The Dark Night of the Soul, and Sayings of Love and Peace.'