John of the Cross was a sixteenth-century Spanish Carmelite monk, ystic, and contemporary of Teresa of Avila who became one of Christianity's foremost spiritual teachers. He is most famous for his lyrical poetry, in which he beautifully describes a tender, loving God. This volume contains his most stirring works, including the classics The Dark Night, in which John expands on the role of darkness in the spiritual journey. The translation is that of Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD with a Foreword by Ron Hansen. The Introduction and editing is by Emilie Griffin.