Francisco de Osuna

Who was Francisco de Osuna?

Francisco of Osuna, O.F.M., was a Spanish Franciscan friar and author of some of the most influential works on spirituality in that nation in the 16th century.

His book The Third Spiritual Alphabet influenced Saint Teresa of Jesus. It is considered a masterpiece of Franciscan mysticism. His premise in the book is that friendship and communion with God are possible in this life through cleansing one's conscience, entering one's heart, resting in loving stillness, and then rising above the heart to God alone.