Today is the feast of St. John of the Cross, a Carmelite. John joined with Theresa and others in calling for reform of the Carmelite order. Having had enough of John’s prophetic voice, his Carmelite superiors imprisoned him, lashed him weekly in front of the community and confined him in a small cell until he managed to escape. Being banned to speak in a diocese pales in comparison to imprisonment and weekly beatings! Continue reading →