CITeS was born in October, 1986, as a response to the demand for a better knowledge and thus, better conditions for a serious study of the history, doctrine, and message of the doctors of mystic, Saint Therese of Jesus and Saint John of the Cross, and of their current situation for mankind today.

Due to this same original motivation, CITeS has an academic nature of a university level. Since 1996 a collaboration agreement was signed with the Pontifical University of Salamanca, according to which the University will ratify all the subjects coursed in CITeS for the students who, having the studies of Bachelor in Theology or its equivalent, decide to continue their studies for a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in the Faculty of Theology in the Faculty of Theology fo the Pontifical University of Salamanca. The complete course of CITeS is equivalent to 50% of the biennium credits of the Faculty o Theology. Besides the agreement, but in the same proportion, our studies have been ratified by the Universities of Comillas (Madrid), North of Spain in its headquarters of Burgos and Vitoria, Deusto, The Catholic of Costa Rica, the Pontifical of Rio de Janeiro, and CEVHAC in Mexico. In a lower percentage, the studies of CITeS are also recognized by the Theresian Theological Faculty of Rome.

In the 16 years of operating, almost five hundred students from five continents have participated in the courses of the Center. From different status we have had the participation of monks and nuns from different institutes, a bishop, secular priests, and lay people. Among these: Catholics, persons from the Reformed Churches, and Jews. In this manner, the Center in its alumnae is projected as a space for ecumenical and interreligious encounter and dialogue, perfectly harmonious from the mystical experience in which we are included with respect and mutual acknowledgement.

Its professorate, which includes nuns, priests of the diocesan clergy, lay university professors, and specialists in different areas o knowledge such as philology, literature, art and history, sociology, psychology and economy is also plural. The professorate is also a simple of the importance of interdisciplinary measures when approaching a mystical experience.

Besides the ordinary professorate, it has had and has in a special manner, the mentality with which the center is projected by the general government of the Order of the Barefoot Carmelites through its directors. The director-founder was F. Maximiliano Herráiz García (1986-1990), suceded by José Vicente Rodríguez Rodríguez (1990-1996), Salvador Ros García (1997-1999) and Francisco Javier Sancho Fermín (1999….)

Up to 2002, 54 students of CITeS have continued studies of bachelor degree and 6 have obtained or are in process of obtaining their title of doctor.

The future pages of our history are being pulled by the projected International University of Mystic towards which we have been projecting since 2001.

[ up]