![]() The number of souls called to the contemplative life in its widest sense is even nowadays greater than is commonly supposed. This is partly active, and consists in the systematic denial of everything that could give satisfaction to body or soul, as explained in the Ascent and partly passive (as shown in the Dark Night), where the soul assists God’s operation by submitting to His chastising hand, like a patient under the knife of the surgeon. Between these two there lies a vast distance which it takes a lifetime to cover, where the generous and intelligent co-operation of the soul is indispensable. The beginning consists in the grace of vocation, the end in the beatific vision. A work of this magnitude must be begun by God, and accomplished by Him. Thomas Aquinas, and guiding himself by the light of Holy Scripture, pitilessly dissects the soul and its operations, separating not only what is dangerous or unsound, but everything that is not directly conducive to his ultimate aim, the union of the human will with the holy will of God. John, taking his position on the firm basis of the psychology and theology of St. It is impossible to read them without gaining the conviction that his is the absolutely safe way there may be others, less straight, less rugged, but neither so safe nor so direct. John has traced the way with admirable lucidity and simplicity, but these books, especially the latter, are chiefly addressed to the director. If it is one of God’s ordinances that all spiritual life must be regulated by a director so that pitfalls may be avoided, a soul plunged into the Night of the spirit depends more than any other upon the intelligent guidance of an experienced director, partly on account of its natural reluctance to proceed along a path beset with so many difficulties, partly because the very fact of its being in darkness prevents it from seeing clearly with its own eyes. John informs us, has had numerous exponents but in the Night of the spirit he breaks fresh ground. Instructions for beginners may be found in abundance even the Night of the sense, as St. John of the Cross, is perhaps from a practical point of view the most important of the whole series. The Dark Night, though only a short treatise in comparison with the remaining works of St. Benedict Zimmerman for Dark Night of the Soul by St. The following is an Introduction penned by Fr. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |