JOHN OF JESUS-MARY (Calaguritanus). - Carmelite mystical theologian, in the world Giovanni de S. Pedro y Ustarroz, b. at Calahorra on 27 (?) January 1564, d. at Montecompatri in 1615.
He studied at Salamanca and entered the reform of St. Teresa at the age of 18, in the famous novitiate of Pastrana. A priest in 1590, the following year he came to Italy, to the convent of Genoa. After the General Chapter of Cremona (1593), in which the Discalced Carmelites were separated from the Calced, forming a distinct Order, he was the first master of novices of the novitiate that was then opened at Genoa. When in 1598 Pope Clement VIII erected the Italian Congregation of the Discalced, he came to Rome and was master of novices in the convent of S. Maria della Scala. He was distinguished for his singular capacity as an educator and wrote for this purpose several works that became of traditional use in the Order: Istruzione dei novizi (1589), Disciplina claustrale (1598), Istruzione del maestro dei novizi (1607). He was a man of counsel, much sought after by many ecclesiastical personages; a great friend of Bellarmine. After having been general of the Order (1611-14) he retired into the solitude of Montecompatri. His body is preserved there incorrupt.
A writer of the highest worth, his works three times had the honour of a complete edition: in 1622 and in 1650 at Cologne; in 1772-74 at Florence (Ven. P. F. Joannis a J. M. Opera omnia... illustrata per P. F. Ildefonsum a S. Aloysio). In them he reveals himself as exegete, spiritual writer, educator, classical Latin poet. In the field of mysticism he left us a Theologia mystica (1607) written in Latin, a jewel of profound and precise doctrine; in it the traditional teachings and notions meet with the experience of St. Teresa. It had many editions, one of them recent (Fribourg in Br. 1912). His Scuola di orazione, contemplazione, etc., written in Italian (1610) is a small summa of spiritual doctrine in the form of a catechism. The precision of its concepts makes it most useful.
Bibliography
Gabriele di Santa Maria Maddalena