The Order of the Discalced Carmelites is preparing to commemorate, beginning next December, the “Sanjuanist Centenaries: the third centenary of the canonization of Saint John of the Cross (1726) and the first centenary of his declaration as Doctor of the Church (1926).”
Jubilee Year
It will be a Jubilee Year filled with memory, spirituality, and culture, in which the Christian people and society will be able to rediscover the contemporary relevance of a mystic who continues to be a “beacon for believers,” poets, and seekers of meaning, explain members of the Order of Discalced Carmelites.
The solemn opening of the Sanjuanist Jubilee Year will take place on Saturday, December 13, 2025, in the Church–Tomb of Saint John of the Cross of the Discalced Carmelites in Segovia, where his remains rest. The closing will be celebrated on Saturday, December 26, 2026, in the city of Úbeda, where the saint gave his life and where a living memory of his death is preserved.
To encourage the participation of the faithful and pilgrims, the following have been designated as jubilee churches:
Diocese of Segovia: Church of the Discalced Carmelites in Segovia, where the Tomb of the saint is located.
Diocese of Ávila: Parish of Saint Cyprian in Fontiveros (birthplace of Saint John of the Cross), Basilica of Saint Teresa of Jesus in Ávila, and the conventual church of the Discalced Carmelite nuns of Duruelo (Blascomillán).
Diocese of Jaén: Church–oratory of the convent of the Discalced Carmelites of Úbeda.
“Hope attains as much as it hopes for”
The motto chosen to accompany this event is “Hope attains as much as it hopes for.” The phrase, taken from one of the most intense poems of Saint John of the Cross, was selected through a consultation of the religious of the Iberian Province, with a wide majority of votes, at the proposal of Fr. Maximiliano Herráez, OCD. It expresses the depth of Christian hope according to the saint: not as a passive attitude, but as a trusting and bold path toward God, in which the soul receives in proportion to how much it opens itself with desire and confidence.
The motto takes on a special meaning at this time, as it establishes a spiritual bridge between the Jubilee Year of Hope, which is about to conclude, and the new jubilee period that is now beginning.
In this way, Carmel wishes to offer the Church and the world a word of encouragement and confidence in the midst of a time marked by uncertainty and weariness.
The first major image of these centenaries is the official poster, the work of Manuel García Villacañas, a painter from Úbeda. It depicts Saint John of the Cross from the waist up, wearing the complete habit in a serene and recollected pose. The face, rendered with precision, conveys humanity and closeness, reminding us that the saints were people of flesh and blood who reached fullness in their relationship with God.
Along with the motto and the poster, the official logo of the Centenaries has also been presented. With a sober and contemporary design, it frames the silhouette of the saint with circular typography that recalls the two anniversaries: 300 years since canonization and 100 years as Doctor of the Church.
Its simple and elegant design allows for easy visual identification and will be the reference image for all the celebrations, publications, and activities that will take place throughout this jubilee.
With these symbols now presented, the Order of Carmel invites everyone to take part in a year of grace in which the canonization of Saint John of the Cross by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726 and his proclamation as Doctor of the Church by Pius XI in 1926 will be commemorated.
Throughout these months, liturgical celebrations, academic conferences, publications, and cultural activities will be organized to bring the richness of his figure to the wider public.
The Sanjuanist Centenaries aim to be, at one and the same time, grateful remembrance and a call to the present: to recover the voice of the Mystical Doctor as a teacher of hope, a poet of love, and a witness to a path that, five centuries later, remains timely and necessary.
Conditions for Gaining the Jubilee
To obtain the Jubilee indulgence, the faithful must fulfill certain specific conditions when visiting a jubilee church:
Confession: Sacramental confession must be made individually and integrally, without omitting any sin (within eight days before or after visiting the jubilee church).
Eucharistic Communion: The faithful must receive the Eucharist.
Prayer for the Pope: Pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, asking in a special way for the intentions of the Pope.
Detachment from all sin: It is necessary that the faithful exclude all attachment to sin, even venial sin.
