JOHN of JESUS-MARY (Calaguritanus). - Carmelite mystical theologian, born Giovanni de S. Pedro y Ustarroz, at Calahorra on 27 (?) January 1564, died at Montecompatri in 1615.
He studied at Salamanca and entered the reform of St Teresa at the age of 18, in the celebrated novitiate of Pastrana. Ordained priest in 1590, the following year he came to Italy, to the convent of Genoa. After the General Chapter of Cremona (1593), at which the Discalced Carmelites were separated from the Calced, forming a distinct Order, he became the first master of the novitiate 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 at the convent of S. Maria della Scala. He distinguished himself by his singular capacity as an educator and for this purpose wrote several works which became traditional 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 figures; a great friend of Bellarmine. After serving as General of the Order (1611-14) he retired to the solitude of Montecompatri, where his body is preserved incorrupt.
A writer of the highest value, his works were honoured with three complete editions: in 1622 and 1650 at Cologne; in 1772-74 at Florence (Ven. P. F. Joannis a J. M. Opera omnia... illustrata per P. F. Ildefousum a S. Aloysio). In them there appears, as spiritual writer, educator and classical Latin poet, a consummate artist. In the field of mysticism he left a Theologia mystica (1607) written in Latin, a jewel of profound and precise doctrine; in it traditional teachings and notions are joined to the experience of St Teresa. It had many editions, including a recent one (Freiburg in Br. 1912). His Scuola di orazione, contemplazione, ecc., written in Italian (1610), is a small summa of spiritual doctrine in catechetical form. The precision of its concepts renders it most useful.