Way of the Fathers

St. John of the Cross (1542 - 1591)
What St. Thomas Aquinas did for philosophy and systematic theology, St. John of the Cross did for mysticism. He brought mystical theology to a plateau, gleaning from the mystics who came before him, and making it accessible to those who want to follow in the contemplative life.
Links
Check out this Catholic Culture podcast about St. John of the Cross' poetry, including readings of some of his poems in Spanish and English:  https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/166-poetry-st-john-cross-w-carla-galdo/
Pope St. John Paul II Apostolic Letter, Maestro en la Fe (1990): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5724&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2644080
Pope Benedict XVI General Address on St. John of the Cross (2011): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9548&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2644080
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross: https://www.icspublications.org/collections/homepage/products/the-collected-works-of-st-john-of-the-cross
The song "Living Flame" on the album Held by Love by Songs in His Presence: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014C17NW/
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage:  https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. John of the Cross (1542 - 1591) Arguably the most famous of the mystics, St. John of the Cross is well known for the concept of the "dark night of the soul." He was the "first friar" of the Discalced Carmelites, co-founder of the reform movement with St. Teresa of Avila, and one of the greatest Spanish poets of all time.
Links
Check out this Catholic Culture podcast about St. John of the Cross' poetry, including readings of some of his poems in Spanish and English:  https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/166-poetry-st-john-cross-w-carla-galdo/
Pope St. John Paul II Apostolic Letter, Maestro en la Fe (1990): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=5724&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2644080
Pope Benedict XVI General Address on St. John of the Cross (2011): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9548&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2644080
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross: https://www.icspublications.org/collections/homepage/products/the-collected-works-of-st-john-of-the-cross
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage:  https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Peter Canisius (1521 - 1597) This restorer of the Catholic faith among the Germans and Swiss was responsible for standardizing the current form of the Hail Mary prayer. A champion of Catholic education, especially seminaries, he is an example for all teachers and apologists to follow.
Links
The book, A Small Catechism for Catholics, by St. Peter Canisius, S.J., English translation by Ryan Grant: https://mediatrixpress.com/product/a-small-catechism-for-catholics/
The Large Catechism on Google Books: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Catechism_of_St_Peter_Canisius/yTdZDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1
To find out more about St. Peter Canisius: A Champion of the Church: The Life of St. Peter Canisius - https://mediatrixpress.com/product/a-champion-of-the-church-the-life-of-st-peter-canisius/
Read the General Audience Address of Pope Benedict XVI (Feb. 9, 2011) dedicated to St. Peter Canisius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9550&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2626034
Read the Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, Militantis Ecclesiae (1897) on St. Peter Canisius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=4886&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2626034
Get the current Catechism of the Catholic Church: https://catholicbooksdirect.com/products/catechism-of-the-catholic-church-complete-and-updated
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage:  https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Peter Canisius (1521 - 1597) A counter-Reformation apologist and reformer, St. Peter Canisius wrote the first official Catholic Catechisms, and was responsible for major parts of Germany and Switzerland remaining Catholic. 
Links
Read the Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, Militantis Ecclesiae (1897) on St. Peter Canisius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=4886&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2626034
Read the General Audience Address of Pope Benedict XVI (Feb. 9, 2011) dedicated to St. Peter Canisius: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=9550&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2626034
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage:  https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's book on private prayer and devotion in the early Church: Praying Like the Early Church: Seven Insights from the Church Fathers to Help You Connect with God - https://sophiainstitute.com/?product=praying-like-the-early-church
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/

St. Teresa of Avila (1515 - 1582) St. Teresa was already being called a saint, and a doctor, within her lifetime. She was a visionary who suffered greatly from physical illness, and spiritual disappointment, when even some of her friends didn't believe that her mystical experiences were real. She eventually convinced the naysayers, founded 17 convents and reformed the Carmelite order, all in the face of extreme opposition, even from the Spanish Inquisition.
Links
Check out this article on St. Teresa's Teaching: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=7725&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2622568
SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/
DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio
Dr. Papandrea's Homepage:  https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/
Dr. Papandrea's book on private prayer and devotion in the early Church: Praying Like the Early Church: Seven Insights from the Church Fathers to Help You Connect with God - https://sophiainstitute.com/?product=praying-like-the-early-church
Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch
Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/