Resumen de Father Charles Neale:: American Jesuit, "Adopted" Carmelite and the First English Translator of San Juan de la Cruz?
Prior to the 20th century, there is little to no documented influence of San Juan de la Cruz outside Europe. This article presents a newly discovered manuscript translation into English of San Juan's Cántico espiritual, composed by the American Jesuit Charles Neale in the late 18th or early 19th century. In his translation, Neale is faithful to the Carmelite poetic tradition generally, and also to both of the founders of the reformed Carmelite Order: the translation renders San Juan's original text but also shows the influence of Santa Teresa de Jesús. Further, Neale's status as an "adopted" Carmelite is important in understanding his immersion in San Juan's poetry, as he aided in the Carmelites' expansion from Europe to America, and lived with and served as confessor to Carmelite women during and after the suppression of the Society of Jesus by Pope Clement XIV.
