Door through Darkness: John of the Cross and Mysticism in Everyday Life

The teaching of John of the Cross is meant to be for everyone, according to St. Eileen Lyddon, whether they are gifted intellectually or spiritually or not; whether they are "professional" or "lay" Christians; whether they call themselves Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, or Protestants. Sr. Lyddon's vision and sincerity are exactly what make Door Through Darkness the masterpiece that it is. She herself admits that when she first approached John of the Cross' writings, she was attracted to the poetry and repelled by the scholasticism. But, upon closer examination she found that the asceticism and rigidity associated with John's writings are more apparent than real. What's important for John is love; asceticism is a way of channeling love.