Dark Night of The Soul

by

Saint John of the Cross

DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

THIRD REVISED EDITION

CONTENTS

PREFACE TO THE ELECTRONIC EDITION

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

PRINCIPAL ABBREVIATIONS

DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

INTRODUCTION

Manuscripts of the DARK NIGHT

 

DARK NIGHT

 

PROLOGUE

STANZAS OF THE SOUL

 

BOOK THE FIRST

Which treats of the Night of Sense.

　

STANZA THE FIRST

EXPOSITION

　

CHAPTER I

Sets down the first line and begins to treat of the imperfections of beginners.

CHAPTER II

Of certain spiritual imperfections which beginners have with respect to the habit of pride.

CHAPTER III

Of some imperfections which some of these souls are apt to have, with respect to the second capital sin, which is avarice, in the spiritual sense.

CHAPTER IV

Of other imperfections which these beginners are apt to have with respect to the third sin, which is luxury.

CHAPTER V

Of the imperfections into which beginners fall with respect to the sin of wrath.

CHAPTER VI

Of imperfections with respect to spiritual gluttony.

CHAPTER VII

Of imperfections with respect to spiritual envy and sloth.

CHAPTER VIII

Wherein is expounded the first line of the first stanza, and a beginning is made of the explanation of this dark night.

CHAPTER IX

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.

CHAPTER X

Of the way in which these souls are to conduct themselves in this dark night.

CHAPTER XI

Wherein are expounded the three lines of the stanza.

CHAPTER XII

Of the benefits which this night causes in the soul.

CHAPTER XIII

Of other benefits which this night of sense causes in the soul.

CHAPTER XIV

Expounds this last line of the first stanza.

 

BOOK THE SECOND

Of the Dark Night of the Spirit.

　

CHAPTER I

Which begins to treat of the dark nights of the spirit and says at what time it begins.

CHAPTER II

Describes other imperfections which belong to these proficients.

CHAPTER III

Annotation for that which follows.

CHAPTER IV

Sets down the first stanza and the exposition thereof.

EXPOSITION

　

CHAPTER V

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.

CHAPTER VI

Of other kinds of pain that the soul suffers in this night.

CHAPTER VII

Continues the same matter and considers other afflictions end constraints of the will.

CHAPTER VIII

Of other pains which afflict the soul in this state.

CHAPTER IX

How, although this night brings darkness to the spirit, it does so in order to illumine it and give it light.

CHAPTER X

Explains this purgation fully by a comparison.

CHAPTER XI

Begins to explain the second line of the first stanza. Describes how, as the fruit of these rigorous constraints, the soul finds itself with the vehement passion of Divine love.

CHAPTER XII

Shows how this horrible night is purgatory, and how in it the Divine wisdom illumines men on earth with the same illumination that purges and illumines the angels in Heaven.

CHAPTER XIII

Of other delectable effects which are wrought in the soul by this dark night of contemplation.

CHAPTER XIV

Wherein are set down and explained the last three lines of the first stanza.

CHAPTER XV

Sets down the second stanza and its exposition.

CHAPTER XVI

Explains how, though in darkness, the soul walks securely.

CHAPTER XVII

Explains how this dark contemplation is secret.

CHAPTER XVIII

Explains how this secret wisdom is likewise a ladder.

CHAPTER XIX

Begins to explain the ten steps of the mystic ladder of Divine love, according to Saint Bernard and Saint Thomas. The first five are here treated.

CHAPTER XX

Wherein are treated the other five steps of love.

CHAPTER XXI

Which explains the word 'disguised,' and describes the colours of the disguise of the soul in this night.

CHAPTER XXII

Explains the third line of the second stanza.

CHAPTER XXIII

Expounds the fourth line and describes the wondrous hiding place wherein the soul is set during this night. Shows how, although the devil has an entrance into other places that are very high, he has none into this.

CHAPTER XXIV

Completes the explanation of the second stanza.

CHAPTER XXV

Wherein is expounded the third stanza.

EXPOSITION