The first faculty of the soul, which is the understanding, has now been instructed, through all its apprehensions, in the first theological virtue, which is faith, to the end that, according to this faculty, the soul may be united with God by means of the purity of faith. A primer to his Dark Night of the Soul, this acclaimed translation will resonate with modern pilgrims searching for wisdom.ġ. By emptying ourselves of earthly distractions-memory, will, and sensual desires-we can make room for the pure light of God's grace. Yet John's words are uplifting, lyrical, and filled with hope for any soul who aspires to the Divine union. He believed that a spiritual union was open to us, but not before experiencing the confusion and despair of a dark night of the soul. John wrote about his spiritual struggles with a unique poetic vision, illuminating a path for the faithful to grow closer to God. Imprisoned in Toledo during the sixteenth century, St. This remarkable guide to the spiritual life stands as his most popular work. Teresa of Avila, are regarded as the peak of Spanish mysticism. John of the Cross was proclaimed to be a Doctor of the Church, Pope Pius XI praised his work as 'a guide and handbook for the man of faith who proposes to embrace a life of perfection.' The writings of the pious Carmelite priest, as well as those of St. “What I say-and it is to the purpose-is, that every single desire, though it be but the slightest imperfection, darkens the soul, and hinders its perfect union with God.He was called 'the greatest of all mystical theologians' by spiritual teacher Thomas Merton.

“For it is well known that on the spiritual road not to go on overcoming self is to go backwards, and not to increase our gain is to lose.” ( )

“These two evils flow from one single act of desire for it is clear that the instant we set our affections upon any one created thing, our capacity for union with God is diminished in proportion to the intensity of that act of affection.” ( ) “The desires fatigue, torment, darken, defile, and weaken the soul.” ( ) We must pass through these three nights if we are to attain to the divine union with God.” ( ) The third, from the goal to which it tends, God, incomprehensible and infinite, Who in this life is as night to the soul. The second, from the road by which it travels that is faith, for faith is obscure, like night, to the understanding. This is as night for every desire and sense of man. The first is derived from the point from which the soul sets out, the privation of the desire of all pleasure in all the things of this world, by detachment therefrom. “In a dark night.’-The journey of the soul to the divine union is called night for three reasons.

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