Mary to St John of the Cross: "You will have the strength to escape"

Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591), whose feast day is December 14, was a great mystic and champion of the Carmelite reform. For this reason, the (calced) Carmelites, who opposed the reform, had him kidnapped and sequestered in order to make him renounce it. After months of mistreatment and torment, a powerful ally came to announce his release.

On August 15, 1578, John of the Cross was huddled in a corner of the narrow cavity that had been his prison in the Carmelite convent of Toledo for almost nine months. On the feast of Our Lady, the prisoner had asked permission to celebrate mass. His captor laughed in his face before declaring that John would not celebrate mass until he renounced the reform. John's heart was broken.

He wept silently until nightfall. Then a bright white light caused him to look up, and his eyes widened in astonishment. Before him stood a young woman of breathtaking beauty. John immediately recognized her, but he was too weak to stand up.

Have patience, my son," the Blessed Virgin told him, "for your trials will soon come to an end. You will come out of prison, say mass and be consoled.

- Mother of God," he replied, tearfully, "how can this be? I don't even know where I am".

The Virgin smiled and reached out to touch his forehead. A gentle warmth emanated from her, and a vision appeared in John's mind. First a room. Then a corridor. Then a window overlooking the Tagus River, with the tip of a rampart ten meters below. - This is the path you will follow," the Virgin Mary said. Do not fear, I will be with you." "Queen of Heaven," he said. I have no key to get out of my prison."

Mary then showed him how one of the screws on the lock was loose. One or two days would suffice to remove it. John's heart began to race. He was going to be free, and it was the mother of Christ who came to tell him so. - "Sweet Mary, forgive your servant again, but I am so weak, I can hardly stand up. And I am never left alone." - "You shall have strength," she promised. And your jailers' sleep will not betray you."

At the holy woman's word, John's chest swelled with confidence and joy. Who can fail to believe in a promise coming from the mouth of the Mother of God? Feeling a new strength come over him, he dropped to his knees and bowed to his divine ally. When he raised his eyes, she had left. On the night of August 17th and 18th, everything happened just as the Blessed Virgin had foretold.

His terrible captivity served as the inspiration for some of the finest Christian mystical and spiritual writings.

Adapted from www.aleteia.org