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Overview
While spiritual guidance may be simply a comfort to some, it is an absolute necessity to those who would undertake the monumental task of fulfilling the soul's destiny of unity with God. In coming into the presence of the divine Creator, man would find himself infinitely smaller and wholly finite, a crushing blow to the ego, but the necessary process by which one truly becomes communed with God. Proceeding through the forest of human imperfections, St. John of the Cross offers a light in the darkness. A sympathetic guide, this poem and its explication are offered to ease the task of shedding the mental trappings of human existence, and to encourage fortitude in the face of suffering and the detachment of the spirit from the merely imagined self in order to fully become a blessed child of God, ready and able to embrace the glory that entails. Spanish mystic and poet ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS (1542–1591) played a major role in the Catholic Reformation of the 16th century, and produced several renowned writings, including his *Spiritual Canticle*, *The Dark Night of the Soul*, and *Sayings of Love and Peace*.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781420969313 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Digireads.com Publishing |
| Publication date: | 05/31/2020 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 3 MB |
Table of Contents
Preface v
Introduction xiii
Book 1 Of the Night of Sense
Chapter 1 Begins with the first stanza and treats of the imperfections of beginners 3
Chapter 2 Of some spiritual imperfections to which beginners are liable in the matter of pride 7
Chapter 3 Of the imperfections into which some beginners are wont to fall, in the matter of the second capital sin, which is avarice, in the spiritual sense 13
Chapter 4 Of other imperfections into which some beginners are wont to fall, in the matter of the third sin, which is luxury, spiritually understood 17
Chapter 5 Of the imperfections of beginners in the matter of anger 23
Chapter 6 Of the imperfections in the matter of spiritual gluttony 25
Chapter 7 Of the imperfections in the matter of envy and spiritual sloth 31
Chapter 8 Explanation of the first line of the first stanza. Beginning of the explanation of the dark night 35
Chapter 9 Of the signs by which it may be known that the spiritual man is walking in the way of this night or purgation of sense 39
Chapter 10 How they are to conduct themselves who have entered the dark night 45
Chapter 11 Stanza I 49
Chapter 12 Of the benefits which the night of sense brings to the soul 53
Chapter 13 Of other benefits which the night of sense brings to the soul 59
Chapter 14 The last line of the first stanza explained 65
Book 2 Of the Night of the Spirit
Chapter 1 The Second Night; that of the spirit. When it begins 71
Chapter 2 Of certain imperfections of proficients 75
Chapter 3 Notes on that which is to follow 79
Chapter 4 Explanation of the first stanza 83
Chapter 5 Explains how this dim contemplation is not a night only, but pain and torment also for the soul 85
Chapter 6 Of other sufferings of the soul in this night 91
Chapter 7 The same subject continued. Other afflictions and trials of the will 97
Chapter 8 Of other sufferings which distress the soul in this state 103
Chapter 9 How this night enlightens the mind, though it brings darkness over it 109
Chapter 10 Explanation of this purgation by a comparison 117
Chapter 11 Begins the explanation of the second line of the first stanza, and shows how a vehement passion of divine love is the fruit of these sharp afflictions of the soul 123
Chapter 12 Shows how this awful night is a purgatory, and how in it the divine wisdom illuminates men on earth with that light in which die angels are purified and enlightened in heaven 127
Chapter 13 Other sweet effects wrought in the soul in the dark night of contemplation 131
Chapter 14 Repeats and explains the last three lines of the first Stanza 139
Chapter 15 The second stanza and its explanation 143
Chapter 16 Shows how the soul journeys securely when in darkness 145
Chapter 17 Gives the second line and explains how this dim contemplation is secret 153
Chapter 18 Shows how this secret wisdom is also a ladder 159
Chapter 19 Begins the explanation of the ten degrees of the mystic ladder according to St. Bernard St. Thomas 163
Chapter 20 Of the other five degrees 169
Chapter 21 The meaning of "disguised." The colors in which the soul disguises itself in this night 173
Chapter 22 Explains the third line of the second stanza. Happiness of the soul in having overcome its enemies 179
Chapter 23 Explains the fourth line-describes the wonderful hiding place of the soul in this night, and how the devil, though he enters other most secret places, enters not this 181
Chapter 24 Concludes the explanation of the second stanza 189
Chapter 25 In which the third stanza is briefly explained 193