Dark Night of the Sense's and Soul?

[TOP]

Is there any recorded physical symptoms or sickness when experiencing any one of these? Any mental sickness or symptoms recorded for short periods (a couple of hours)? Thanks, Tim

 

[puzzleannie]

the phrases “dark night of the senses” and “dark night” come from St. John of the Cross, specifically his poem, and the explanation of the meaning of the first few stanzas of the poem, a work he wrote for the spiritual guidance of nuns and priests for whom he acted as spiritual director. It refers to specific stages in the spiritual journey toward union with God, and does not refer to any physical condition or mental illness, so I am not sure what you are asking. There are several threads on this forum on the book and the author. He does speak briefly about person with what he calls a melancholic disposition, which sounds like someone we would call a pessimist, or someone with a tendency to periods of clinical depression, and gives them advice, but does not equate that with the dark night.

 

[Joysong]

Hi Tim,

The experience of either ‘night’ is usually brought about by the action of God upon the soul. If there is any mental sickness that someone would chance to encounter during this period, this would be in the realm of bodily experience, not that of spirit and therefore, not directly caused by God.

I have read in the book of Foundations, that St. Teresa cautioned her prioresses to be aware of a condition sometimes found in certain nuns that suffered from ‘melancholia.’ Believing wrongly that their experience is spiritual, those who suffer from it could affect an entire community and do much harm. She taught the prioresses to be severe in curbing this illness whenever they encountered it, both for the sake of the person who suffered it, and also their interaction within the community.

Basically, from what I understood, some mistook a false absorption for contemplation and allowed their spirits to indulge this useless pastime for hours at a time, with none of the good effects that one receives from the authentic gift. It was innocent enough, and perhaps some picked up the idea from the Quietists of that day, I don’t know. St. Teresa was very gifted in knowing the false from the true, praise God, and I think that’s why her writings are so valuable for any person that is serious about prayer.

Maybe I’m not understanding you completely, but generally one in the night is encountering an absence of God, yet continues to hunger for Him. Formerly, they had a good deal of consolation and prayer was rather easy. Then the sudden detour into the arid desert is not what they expect, and it causes some deep concern about backsliding.

 

[TOP]

Thank you both for your answers. Tim

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting Joysong:

The experience of either ‘night’ is usually brought about by the action of God upon the soul. If there is any mental sickness that someone would chance to encounter during this period, this would be in the realm of bodily experience, not that of spirit and therefore, not directly caused by God.

Extremely well expressed, concise, and spot …

 

[Joysong]

Hi Tim,

I remembered St. John’s teaching from Spiritual Canticle concerning some of the wiles that the devils can introduce when the soul has been brought this far in its journey to union with God. I don’t know whether this will speak to you, but it is a possibility that there can be outside influences that are not true mental illness. Maybe you can give a look and see if this is behind your question?
catholictreasury.info/JohnICS/cn_18.htm

In the second way, which is worse, when it is impossible for these devils to disturb her in the first way, they assail her with bodily torments and noises in order to distract her. And what is still worse, they struggle against her with spiritual terrors and horrors that sometimes become a frightful torment. If permission is given them they can do this very easily, for since the soul at this time enters into great nakedness of spirit for the sake of this spiritual exercise, the devil can easily show himself to her, because he is also spirit. 2

At other times he attacks her with different horrors before she begins to enjoy these sweet flowers, when God is beginning to withdraw her from the house of the senses that she may enter, through this interior exercise, the garden of her Bridegroom. The devil knows that once the soul has entered into that recollection, she is so fortified that however much he may try he cannot do her harm.

 

[TOP]

Joysong, the enemy is much more subtle nowadays. He has had his fun with me. I’m just not scared of the enemy anymore. What I am writing about now is what has followed what you have already addressed in your post. There is some dryness, though the past consolations are enough to dampen that. This is a physical sickness that hits me every night from around 6:00pm until bedtime. I’ve had a brain scan for tumors done because of my history with cancer and nothing was found. I’ve spoken with Dr.s about the meds I take for ptsd and was assured that the meds don’t wear off like that, but takes weeks to leave the system. This could be a physcosymatic (spelling) from the ptsd. But it is weird in nature. Prayer is difficult as well as deep thought. If I think of anything against my conscience, it is like a reset button is pushed in my brain. I get dizzy, can’t focus and just lay down until the worst of it passes. It’s like being lost in a dark cloud with a hangover that is fueled by thoughts, so I don’t think which kills my prayer practice’s. I was just eliminating the spiritual from this even though a part of me links all my physical sufferings to the spiritual. It is hard to seperate the two. Thank you all for your insights. Tim

 

[Joysong]

May God hold you dearly in the palm of His hand, TOP. I wish I had an answer. But I do know medications can do funny things to the body. Here is a site that lists prescription drugs and the potential side-effects. Maybe you already looked them up on the pamphlet that accompanied your prescription, but in case you need to know more . . .

rxlist.com/script/main/hp.asp

God bless you!

Carole

 

[TOP]

May God hold you dearly in the palm of His hand, TOP. I wish I had an answer. But I do know medications can do funny things to the body. Here is a site that lists prescription drugs and the potential side-effects. Maybe you already looked them up on the pamphlet that accompanied your prescription, but in case you need to know more . . .

rxlist.com/script/main/hp.asp

God bless you!

Carole

Thanks for the link. Its got to be a weird mix of side effects. I just don’t like how it makes me feel about prayer. Something doesn’t feel right about it. Tim

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting TOP

I was just eliminating the spiritual from this even though a part of me links all my physical sufferings to the spiritual.

In a sense you are correct, Time. Even in physical suffering it is a cross permitted by God. I was researching something in St. Paul today and accidentally came over these words “God forbid I glory in anything but the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ” and he goes on to state that those who will keep that rule he hopes will ever know Peace and The Mercy of God. I needed to read those words today.
Suffering is never easy - and why we call it suffering, precisely because it is not easy. If we can see all things flowing from the Hands of God irrespetive of what it is and for good reason though it is mysterious to us, it makes going through a passage of confusion and not understanding a matter that is not so diffcult to endure than if we did not see things that way. And it may be a passage of confusion and not understanding for a while until things start to settle down for you either through medical science or some other breakthrough - no matter how it comes about it will be a gift from God - medical science and medicine is a great gift from God indeed… …meanwhile it is patience and trust in suffering in some way… “all things pass, God alone suffices”.
Personnaly, I can find patience and trust very difficult to rest in and that makes any passage of confusion and not understanding that little bit more difficult and it is simply a cross. God knows well what is happening and will never try anyone beyond their means St. Paul tells us.
I hope that your current difficulties will quickly be sorted out for you.

Blessings and keeping you in prayer, Tim…regards - Barb