YEPES, FRANCISCO de. - Carmelite tertiary,
brother of St. JOHN OF THE CROSS, b. in 1530 in
Fontiveros (Ávila), d. 30 Nov. 1607 in Medina
del Campo.
A humble weaver, after a very pious youth he married
Anna Isquierda, by whom he had eight children. Very dear to St.
JOHN OF THE CROSS, he remained close to him for a long time in
various convents of the Carmelite Reform, following his spiritual
teachings. Full of faith and devotion to the Madonna, he attained a
high degree of perfection, also thanks to the wise spiritual direction
of the Jesuits, by whom he was guided for more than 40 years. Esteemed
for his holiness, his charisms, and the power of his prayer, after his
death he was unanimously called venerable. In mss. 12,738 and 856 of
the Biblioteca nacional in Madrid some of his precious testimonies
concerning St. JOHN OF THE CROSS are preserved.