Dark Night of the Soul - Tan Classics

St John of the Cross presents for us a portrait of one who advances successfully through the struggles of the spiritual life. The "dark night" he describes is not one of abandonment by God but special consideration from Him for those who desire to purify and perfect their souls.

Born in 1542 in what is now Spain, St. John of the Cross entered the Carmelites in 1563 and received Holy Orders four years later. Soon after they met, St. Teresa of Avila enlisted him in her efforts to purify the Carmelite order. When the strict observances of St. John's Discalced (literally shoeless) Carmelites sparked widespread reform, some disgruntled monks captured, imprisoned, and tortured him. During those nine months and beyond St. John of the Cross endured a dark night of the soul. This and other contemplative experiences inspired his mystical theology and thereby earned him the title Doctor of the Church.

Preface	p. v
Introduction	p. xiii
Of the Night of Sense
Begins with the first stanza and treats of the imperfections of beginners	p. 3
Of some spiritual imperfections to which beginners are liable in the matter of pride	p. 7
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	p. 13
Of other imperfections into which some beginners are wont to fall, in the matter of the third sin, which is luxury, spiritually understood	p. 17
Of the imperfections of beginners in the matter of anger	p. 23
Of the imperfections in the matter of spiritual gluttony	p. 25
Of the imperfections in the matter of envy and spiritual sloth	p. 31
Explanation of the first line of the first stanza. Beginning of the explanation of the dark night	p. 35
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	p. 39
How they are to conduct themselves who have entered the dark night	p. 45
Stanza I	p. 49
Of the benefits which the night of sense brings to the soul	p. 53
Of other benefits which the night of sense brings to the soul	p. 59
The last line of the first stanza explained	p. 65
Of the Night of the Spirit
The Second Night; that of the spirit. When it begins	p. 71
Of certain imperfections of proficients	p. 75
Notes on that which is to follow	p. 79
Explanation of the first stanza	p. 83
Explains how this dim contemplation is not a night only, but pain and torment also for the soul	p. 85
Of other sufferings of the soul in this night	p. 91
The same subject continued. Other afflictions and trials of the will	p. 97
Of other sufferings which distress the soul in this state	p. 103
How this night enlightens the mind, though it brings darkness over it	p. 109
Explanation of this purgation by a comparison	p. 117
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	p. 123
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	p. 127
Other sweet effects wrought in the soul in the dark night of contemplation	p. 131
Repeats and explains the last three lines of the first Stanza	p. 139
The second stanza and its explanation	p. 143
Shows how the soul journeys securely when in darkness	p. 145
Gives the second line and explains how this dim contemplation is secret	p. 153
Shows how this secret wisdom is also a ladder	p. 159
Begins the explanation of the ten degrees of the mystic ladder according to St. Bernard	p. 163
Of the other five degrees	p. 169
The meaning of ôdisguised.ö The colors in which the soul disguises itself in this night	p. 173
Explains the third line of the second stanza. Happiness of the soul in having overcome its enemies	p. 179
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	p. 181
Concludes the explanation of the second stanza	p. 189
In which the third stanza is briefly explained	p. 193
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Dark Night of the Soul - Tan Classics

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