Saint John Baptist of the Conception
Saint John Baptist of the Conception (1561-1613) was a Spanish religious, reformer of the Trinitarian Order and mystical writer of the Golden Age.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
Biography
Birth, childhood, and formation of Juan García López-Rico, marked by his meeting with Saint Teresa of Avila and his entry into the Trinitarian Order.
John Baptist of the Conception (born Juan García López-Rico or Juan García Xixón) was born on July 10, 1561, in Almodóvar del Campo, Spain. The fifth of eight children from a family of prosperous farmers, he manifested an early piety. In June 1576, Saint Teresa of Avila stayed in his family home and prophesied that he would become a great saint and reformer. After studies with the Discalced Carmelites, and later in Baeza and Toledo, he entered the Order of the Most Holy Trinity in 1580 under the name John Baptist of the Conception. He was ordained a priest after his studies in Alcalá de Henares.
Life and Work
The reform of the Order of the Trinitarians and the foundation of the Discalced Trinitarian branch despite strong opposition.
Dissatisfied with the relaxation of the original rule of his Order, John Baptist decided in 1596 to dedicate himself to its reform. He joined the convent of Valdepeñas to observe the primitive rule there. Despite the opposition of the Calced Trinitarians, he obtained the support of Pope Clement VIII in Rome, who officially established the Discalced Trinitarians on August 20, 1599, through the brief Ad militantes Ecclesiae regimen. Characterized by absolute poverty, prayer, and the wearing of sandals, this reform spread rapidly. Elected Provincial, he founded 18 religious convents and a monastery for nuns in Madrid in 1612, despite physical persecutions.
Path to Holiness
The trials, persecutions, and final days of John Baptist of the Conception, marked by obedience and illness.
The reformer's life was a Way of the Cross marked by illness and betrayals. In 1608, a hostile investigation led by the Franciscan Andrés de Velasco turned into a resounding confirmation of his holiness. After his term as Provincial, he lived in obscurity. Appointed superior in Cordoba in 1610, he died there on February 14, 1613, at the age of 51, exhausted by fasting, travel on foot, and a severe infection. His remains rest in the church of Nuestra Señora de Gracia in Cordoba.
Beatification and canonization
The long process of official recognition by the Church, from his beatification in 1819 to his canonization in 1975.
John Baptist of the Conception was beatified on September 21, 1819, by Pope Pius VII, with a solemn celebration at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on September 26, 1819. He was subsequently solemnly canonized on May 25, 1975, by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter's Basilica, on the occasion of the Holy Year and the tenth anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council. Paul VI then presented him as a model of an authentic reformer for the Church.
Spirituality and Legacy
The mystical literary work of John Baptist and the endurance of his reform within the Order of the Most Holy Trinity.
A great mystical writer of the Spanish Golden Age, John Baptist left behind a vast body of work consisting of nine volumes (treatises on humility, prayer, and an autobiography). His spirituality is Trinitarian, Eucharistic, and Marian, centered on configuration to the suffering Christ through love for the poor and prisoners. His legacy is immense: the branch of the Discalced Trinitarians that he founded eventually supplanted the original branch, which became extinct in the 19th century. The current Order of the Most Holy Trinity derives directly from his reform.
Frequently asked questions about Saint John Baptist of the Conception
Who was Saint John Baptist of the Conception?
Saint John Baptist of the Conception (1561-1613) was a Spanish religious, reformer of the Trinitarian Order and mystical writer of the Golden Age.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint John Baptist of the Conception?
Contemporaries include: María de Jesús López Rivas, Mariana de Jesús de Paredes, Blessed Mariana de Jesús (de Paredes y Flores) and Saint Francis de Sales (Bishop and Prince of Geneva).
When did Saint John Baptist of the Conception die?
Saint John Baptist of the Conception died around 1613.
What are the other names of Saint John Baptist of the Conception?
Other forms of the name: Juan García López-Rico, Juan García Xixón and Juan Bautista de la Concepción.
Who are the relatives of Saint John Baptist of the Conception?
Relatives of Saint John Baptist of the Conception: Marcos García Gijón (father), Isabel López Rico (mother) and Saint Jean d'Avila (parent (via his father)).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Period / death: 1561-1613
- Canonized in 1975 by Paul VI
Quotes
-
He will become a great saint and the reformer of a major work within the Church
https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEpX7-I37XE0unNgejCPlT3UhhdAIPSWqtId3dgC4m8w2F-w4pi-0HMKo9-iBsVFAXOylzSYLq6IMWOmG32tR-Tc4Yprn-jMENBF1lIQxL22G5WkbNxeBO1UFgw61tAn6oIoy7c-28mxMaOcx7XtyTp