SCRIPTURA

Mystics

Dark Night of the Soul

John of the Cross

Translated by E. Allison Peers

On a dark night, kindled in love with yearnings.

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Contents · 25

  1. 1Introduction
  2. 2Manuscripts Of The Dark Night
  3. 3Prologue
  4. 4Chapter I. Sets down the first line and begins to treat of the imperfections of beginners.
  5. 5Chapter IV. Of other imperfections which these beginners are apt to have with respect to the third sin, which is luxury.
  6. 6Chapter VI. Of imperfections with respect to spiritual gluttony.
  7. 7Chapter VIII. Wherein is expounded the first line of the first stanza, and a beginning is made of the explanation of this dark night.
  8. 8Chapter X. Of the way in which these souls are to conduct themselves in this dark night.
  9. 9Chapter XII. Of the benefits which this night causes in the soul.
  10. 10Chapter XIII. Of other benefits which this night of sense causes in the soul.
  11. 11Chapter XIV. Expounds this last line of the first stanza.
  12. 12Chapter III. Annotation for that which follows.
  13. 13Chapter VI. Of other kinds of pain that the soul suffers in this night.
  14. 14Chapter VIII. Of other pains which afflict the soul in this state.
  15. 15Chapter IX. How, although this night brings darkness to the spirit, it does so in order to illumine it and give it light.
  16. 16Chapter X. Explains this purgation fully by a comparison.
  17. 17Chapter 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.
  18. 18Chapter XIII. Of other delectable effects which are wrought in the soul by this dark night of contemplation.
  19. 19Chapter XV. Sets down the second stanza and its exposition.
  20. 20Chapter XVI. Explains how, though in darkness, the soul walks securely.
  21. 21Chapter XVII. Explains how this dark contemplation is secret.
  22. 22Chapter 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.
  23. 23Chapter XXI. Which explains the word ‘disguised,’ and describes the colours of the disguise of the soul in this night.
  24. 24Chapter 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.
  25. 25Chapter XXV. Wherein is expounded the third stanza.