John of the Cross

Saint John of the Cross, (1542-1591), Spanish mystic, was born at Ontiveros (Old Castile) on June 24, 1542. He became a professed Carmelite in 1564, and was ordained priest at Salamanca in 1567. He met with much opposition in his efforts to introduce the reforms proposed by St. Theresa, and was more than once imprisoned. His real name was Juan de Yepez y Alvarez; in religion he was known as Juan de Santo Matí till 1568, when he adopted the name of Juan de la Cruz.

Adapted from 1911 Britannica