Like page for dark night of the soul, a book written by st. John of the cross with an introduction from, and translated and edited by, e. Mays book uses the same title in an attempt to both clarify and amplify st. One of the most profound works of christian mysticism, this book is highly recommended for those seeking union with god. John of the cross and when one hears the phrase, dark night of the soul, one thinks of emotional or spiritual anguish. The term dark night of the soul in roman catholic spirituality describes a spiritual crisis in the journey toward union with god, like that described by st. Although depression shares many of its characteristics with the experience of having a dark night of the soul, it can often be treated and sometimes cured with medications, cognitivebehavioral therapy cbt, mindfulness practices, lifestyle changes, and so forth. Dec 24, 2018 the dark night of the soul spiritual depression dr. Traditionally, spiritual directors identify three primary stages or ways of growth in holiness. John of the cross, a spanish mystic of 16th century, here scales the heights of mystical science. The dark night of the soul is an expression describing phases in a persons spiritual life associated with a crisis of faith or spiritual concerns about the relationship with god, and which has. The dark night of the soul spiritual depression dr.
You look out with piercing gazes, but the lord hides himself from your eyes. A psychiatrist explores the connection between darkness and spiritual growth paperback february 1, 2005. Although john wrote dark night of the soul for his christian brothers and. Thats what the dark night of the soul is all about. In the darkest night of the soul, the bleakest veil of blackness is pulled down over the sky. It was the malady that provoked david to soak his pillow with tears. Sets down the first line and begins to explain how this dark contemplation is not only night for the soul but is also grief and torment. In this helpful resource, may gives an anatomy of the dark night of the soul and opens up some of its rich meanings through his assessments of the christian mysticism of teresa of avila and john of the cross in sixteenth century spain. Online book dark night of the soul by st john of the cross, ocd. Dark night of the soul follows the souls journey from a state of abandonment and darkness to a loving union with god. Different labels for the dark night the dark night of the soul the night season the divine darkness journey into the desert cloud of unknowing there is a deeper and more abiding union an experiential oneness with god that he desires for every one of us where we can experience his presence and his joy and rest in the. In a voice at once grandiose and melodious, and a style that combines the systematic theology of st.
In a real dark night of the soul it is always three oclock in the morning. His discussion of the dark night of the spirit, which considers afflictions and pain suffered by the soul, is followed by an extended explanation of. February 14, 2014 never be afraid of loving the blessed virgin too much. This eightstanza poem outlines the souls journey from the distractions and entanglements of the world to the perfect peace and harmony of union with god. The dark night of the soul saint john of the cross.
The fifteenthcentury christian writer john of the cross described this experience. Dark night of the soul by saint john of the cross free ebook. Doubts well up inside you like cumbersome tears, suffering over the meaning of it all and bound by your deepest fears. The phrase dark night of the soul comes from a poem by st. Dark night of the soul describes the painful experiences and their significance on the spiritual journey of st. References to the dark night can also be found in buddhist, kundalini, paganoccult, christian, jewish, and islamic literature. The author himself did not give any title to his poem, on which he wrote two booklength commentaries. In dark night of the soul, saint john of the cross presents for us a portrait painted from his own experience of one who advances successfully through the struggles of the spiritual life. The dark night of the soul spiritual depression psalm 42. The premise of the book is that there are two dark nights, or times of spiritual bleakness that a person must travel through in order to come to a completely mature and perfect union with god. He begins by clearing away some misconceptions about this phenomenon. The first is the purgative way, where we break habits of vice, acquire habits of. Sep, 2017 thats what the dark night of the soul is all about.
As his guides through the dark night of the soul, may uses two 17thcentury spanish mystics, st. Dark night of the soul is an instructional religious book used mainly by the roman catholic church. One of the most profound works of christian mysticism, this book is highly recommended for. Two books considered to be among the top christian books of all time, include dark night of the soul by st. May emphasises that the dark night is not necessarily a time of suffering and near despair, but a time of deep transition, a search for new orientation. Of the way in which these souls are to conduct themselves in this dark night. Dark night of the soul dover thrift editions paperback may 9, 2003. God put the book of job right in the center of the bible for a very good reason. I wasnt sure whether this book would help me given that it was written so long ago and that i am not a practicing christian. Only the honest, sometimes difficult encounters with what christian spirituality has. The dark night is not mentioned that much in spiritual texts and teachings. The dark night of the soul journey to spirituality. The dark night of the soul audiobook by fiona robertson. This eightstanza poem outlines the souls journey from the distractions and entanglements of the world to the perfect peace.
Dark night of the soul christian books, bibles, gifts. It was the malady that so afflicted martin luther that his. The dark night is perceived by mystics and practicing monks from several religions to be a blessing in disguise, whereby the individual is stripped in the dark night of the senses of the spiritual ecstasy associated with acts of virtue. In his twelfth book, the author observes that the sadness, confusion, frustration, pain, suffering, loneliness, and loss that many people experience during a dark night of the soul can be. Part poetic masterpiece, part mystic treatise, the dark night of the soul, by 16th century carmelite monk st. The dark night of the soul a christian poem about doubt.
Only the honest, sometimes difficult encounters with what christian spirituality has called and described in helpful detail as the dark night of the soul can lead to true spiritual wholeness. Exposition of the stanzas describing the method followed by the soul in its journey upon the spiritual road to the attainment of the perfect union of love with god, to the extent that is possible in this life. Appears in 434 books from 17632006 page 89 but the greatest affliction of the sorrowful soul in this state is the thought that god has abandoned it, of which it has no doubt. Daniel psalm 42 christian audio sermon psalm 42 yearning for god in the midst of distresses 1 as the deer pants for the water. May shows how our most desperate moments are necessary for authentic spiritual growth and vital to our experiencing both freedom and joy. Pdf the dark night of the soul is an expression describing phases in a. Teresa of avila, both christian mystics from the 16th century.
With a soul purified from earthly attachments, we can. Therese of the child jesus and the holy face, ocd, a 19thcentury french nun and doctor of the church, wrote of her own experience of the dark night. The purpose of this study is to learn to embrace the dark nights of the soul. This phenomenon describes a malady that the greatest of christians have suffered from time to time. John of the cross, a 16th century monk from spain, composed this spiritual masterpiece.
Wherein is expounded the first line of the first stanza, and a beginning is made of the explanation of this dark night. Page 125 shalt love the lord thy god with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength. Dark night of the soul via catholicism the fullness of christian faith. John of the cross, addresses the feeling of being forgotten by the presence of the almighty that every christian desirous of walking more closely with god must pass through in order to learn to walk by faith and not by sight. These treatises illustrate the theological truth that grace, far from destroying nature, ennobles and dignifies it, and of the agreement always found between the natural and supernatural. John of the cross called the dark night of the soul. The first is the purgative way, where we break habits of vice, acquire habits of virtue and learn to live a catholic life. The premise of the book is that there are two dark nights, or times of spiritual bleakness that a person must travel through in order to come to a. The dark night of the soul is a process many spiritual seekers go through at some point in their lives.
For, having passed through a period, or periods, or days of this night and tempest, the soul soon returns to its wonted serenity. How a forgotten reality can change everything we see, hope. The dark night of the soul ebook 9780061895173 by gerald g. May emphasises that the dark night is not necessarily a time of suffering and near despair, but a time of deep transition, a search for new orientation when things are clouded and full of mystery. Dark night of the soul introduction somewhat reluctantly, out of respect for a venerable tradition, we publish the dark night as a separate treatise, though in reality it is a continuation of the ascent of mount carmel and fulfils the undertakings given in it. The dark night of the soul christian books, bibles. Mar 31, 2009 only the honest, sometimes difficult encounters with what christian spirituality has called and described in helpful detail as the dark night of the soul can lead to true spiritual wholeness. The first night or purgation is of the sensual part of the soul, which is treated in the. While moore begins the book comparing the dark night to the biblical story of jonah in the whale he draws on a wide variety of spiritual traditions and the works jung and hillman to explore how the.
Ascent of mount carmel, dark night of the soul, a spiritual canticle of the soul and the bridegroom christ, st john of the cross bottom of the hill publishing 2012 trade paperback. The dark night of the soul is an expression describing phases in a persons spiritual life associated with a crisis of faith or spiritual concerns about. This concept was originally coined the dark night of the soul by st john of the cross, a spanish poet and priest in the 1500s. Many many times we are being told to be happy, raise your vibration, look to the light, but none of this will be lasting until you have loved the dark.
Christian classics ethereal library excerpt is taken from the book. Of the signs by which it will be known that the spiritual person is walking along the way of this night and purgation of sense. I purchased this book awhile ago, and am just now offering my response to it. The books parts expand upon the different dark nights of the soul arising from three different kinds of experiences. Although john wrote dark night of the soul for his christian brothers and sisters, his rapturous mysticism provides a way to union with the divine for a wide variety of spiritual seekers. The dark night of the soul doesnt come at the beginning of ones journey to god. Ascent of mount carmel subida del monte carmelo and the dark night noche oscura.
Sep 17, 2010 dark night of the soul describes the painful experiences and their significance on the spiritual journey of st. In a stepbystep process, he shows how god can use this dark night to eventually bring our human spirits into greater illumination, revealing heavenly wisdom and the passion of divine love. Buy dark night of the soul reprint by john of the cross st john of the cross, st john of the cross isbn. Daniel psalm 42 christian audio sermon psalm 42 yearning for god in the midst of distresses 1. The dark night of the soul spiritual depression psalm. John describes the process of moving away from routine religious rituals and. The dark night of the soul is not the same as depression.
Written on a scroll smuggled to him by one of his guards, his songs are the ultimate expression of the spiritual seekers journey from estranged despair to blissful union with the divine. May, md, one of the great spiritual teachers and writers of our time, argues that the dark shadow side of the true spiritual life has been trivialised and neglected to. Thomas moore does it with this book that looks at the spiritualpsychological experience st. Dark night of the soul ebook christian books, bibles. Continues the same matter and considers other afflictions end constraints of the will.
Only the honest, sometimes difficult encounters with what christian spirituality has called and described in helpful detail as the dark night of the soul can lead to. Of other kinds of pain that the soul suffers in this night. He is the source and fullness of all things, and without him, all joys, all loves, all pursuits are hollow and meaningless. Distinguished psychiatrist, spiritual counselor, and bestselling author gerald g. The dark night or spiritual emergency is the underbelly of awakening, an aspect of inner transformation that is often minimized, misunderstood, or denied. Offering hope to the downtrodden and discouraged, the dark night of the soul is one of the most difficult books a person can read, but its difficulty is surpassed by its reward. Feb 03, 2004 as his guides through the dark night of the soul, may uses two 17thcentury spanish mystics, st. After escaping his captors, john fell into a state of profound ecstasy and wrote dark night of the soul. The dark night that st john describes is not abandonment by god but special consideration from him for those who desire to purify and perfect their souls. In dark night of the soul, he takes readers on a deeply spiritual journey through hardships and temptations to complete union with god. In this work a spiritual masterpiece and classic of christian literature and mysticism he addresses several subjects, among them pride, avarice, envy, and other human imperfections. It was the malady that earned for jeremiah the sobriquet, the weeping prophet. In this profound and intelligent book, fiona robertson acts as companion and guide through the dark night of the soul, one of lifes most challenging experiences.