Dark Night of the Soul

by Juan de la Cruz, John of the Cross, Saint John of the Cross

Book Overview

The great Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross became a Carmelite monk in 1563 and helped St. Teresa of Avila to reform the Carmelite order -- enduring persecution and imprisonment for his efforts. Both in his writing and in his life, he demonstrated eloquently his love for God. His written thoughts on man's relationship with God were literacy endeavors that placed him on an intellectual and philosophical level with such great writers as St. Augustine...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486426939
• ISBN13: 9780486426938
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.6" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Absolutely humbling

If you feel stalled in the faith or spiritually dry, I recommend this book. It's excellent at helping you find the sins or inconsistencies of thought that are preventing you from making progress in prayer. A must read for any catholic, a humbling experience reading it.

An in depth exploration into walking with God

Absolutely beautiful book. Tons of glorious insights! I went through the Dark Night of the Soul previously so I'm not sure if you can HEAR it if you read it while you're walking blind, but you'll want it when you come out on the other side. So much joy!

darkness just enlit by a blazing fire of burning love, painful!

this little book just blew my mind and heart. i only finished it yesterday, but my heart has been burning with the pain and bliss of the fire of gods love since reading it. awesome. always interesting. starts slowly and then just blasts off into the stratosphere on the ignition of chapter ten! this book is largely about the pain of the dark night of the soul. 1. suffering is difficulty (definition) 2. suffering is neither here nor there. 3. suffering is in what you do. (cause/solution) God does not cause suffering, rather suffering is in what we do. it is not here nor there. not in earthquakes, pain, or death. suffering is in what you do. thank you mirabai, thank you, thank you, thank you! love, from, snow-flake. xxx

A hidden classic, Know or Learn Spanish!

A great book with a very open mind on the form of the divine. A must read for persons seeking to deepen and mature their spiritual journey in the way of Christ. Get it!! It helps to know Spanish to read the whole poem in the begining.

Mystical work of Art.

St. John of the Cross is truly a superb Saint and Mystic. Through his writings You can see how your own spiritual journey may not always be easy. If you are looking for a book that will not only inform you of the dark night, but also give you a self evaluation of your own life, then this is the book for you. In parts it may seem that St. John is peering into your soul and speaking directly to you. The wonderful thing about this book is that no one will have the same experence of it. Everyone who reads it will read it in light of where they are in their own lives. the reflection and thoughts of this Holy man will force you to look inside yourself to find what you need to do to reach the Ultimate union with God. St John of the Cross...Pray For Us!

Brilliant - but requires background for understanding

John of the Cross's writings show the total intensity and detachment of one who has reached a point of union with God that is a sheer gift of grace. The Dark Night of the Soul is among the greatest writings of mystic theology and experience, and highly recommended for those who have some understanding of the concepts of which he writes. The total turning of the will to God, to a point where nothing on earth can satisfy the lover except union with the Beloved, is a marvellous and deeply moving "sight" - and the exquisite poetry here is one of the best expressions in the history of Christianity.This said, it is essential that one have background in order to understand this work. (More easily understood introductions, such as Thomas Dubay's "Fire Within," should precede reading the Dark Night.) John is by no means writing of depression or misery, nor is his path one which is common to all (or indeed many) Christians. Let the serious Christian seeker approach this work with humility - it pre-supposes knowledge and an openness to divine love that is far from universal. And, above all, take John's cautions against self-deception to heart as much as he did.

the masterpiece by the midnight mystic

St. John was one of the first mystics I read who helped me see that an experiential relationship with the sacred isn't all joy; instead, it can hurt, stretch into periods of barrenness and shadows...which themselves to the patient penitent eventually stand revealed as the wordless Word itself, darkening the mind as bright light darkens the eyes. I wish I could have met the author.