Carmelites Announce Jubilee Year Honoring St. John of the Cross

The Iberian Province of the Discalced Carmelites has announced preparations for a jubilee year dedicated to St. John of the Cross, marking three centuries since his canonization and one hundred years since he was proclaimed a doctor of the Church. The celebration, approved by the Apostolic Penitentiary, will involve dioceses across Ávila, Jaén and Segovia, regions closely connected to the life and spiritual legacy of the Carmelite reformer. The initiative reflects an effort to renew engagement with his mystical teachings at a time when many believers seek deeper spiritual grounding. According to the order, commemorations will invite pilgrims to revisit the foundational principles of Carmelite spirituality, encouraging renewed contemplation of God through silence, interiority and disciplined prayer. The jubilee aims to highlight the enduring relevance of St. John’s spiritual vision, which continues to guide Christians toward a mature and reflective faith rooted in an intimate pursuit of divine truth.

Leaders of the Discalced Carmelites emphasized that the yearlong observance is not only a tribute to historical milestones but also an opportunity to deepen understanding of the saint’s teachings and personal witness. The provincial superior, Friar Francisco Sánchez Oreja, described St. John as a living voice for contemporary believers, noting that his emphasis on immersion in the theological life remains strikingly resonant in the modern world. Sánchez highlighted that the jubilee should inspire renewed study of his works, which reveal the saint’s profound capacity for contemplative depth and his vision of the Christian journey as one guided by faith, hope and charity. He also recalled St. John’s early experience of poverty, which shaped his sense of humility and detachment and later influenced his approach to reform within the order. His life stands as a reminder that spiritual authority emerges not from privilege but from perseverance, prayer and fidelity to the Gospel.

The jubilee year will begin on December 13 with the opening of the holy door at the Church of the Sepulchre of St. John of the Cross in Segovia and will conclude in December 2026 with a closing ceremony in Úbeda, the town where he died. Several churches will be designated as pilgrimage sites during this period, including St. Cyprian Parish in Fontiveros, his birthplace, the Basilica of St. Teresa in Ávila and the conventual church of the Discalced Carmelite nuns in Duruelo. Each location carries historical significance for those tracing the saint’s spiritual path. Organizers hope that the jubilee will prompt renewed appreciation for his mystical writings, which continue to serve as guides for those seeking deeper communion with God. As the wider Church prepares for this commemoration, the Carmelites view the jubilee as a moment to strengthen collective reflection on the meaning of spiritual discipline, interior transformation and the enduring pursuit of holiness.