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Inquiringperson
Guest
What does the Dark Night feel like? What should you do if you have one?
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Schardijn
Guest
Read it here: ccel.org/ccel/john_cross/dark_night.html 
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mercytruth
Guest
it feels like abandonment of God. it is like walking through the valley of the shadow of death. it is like a dry desert with no water in sight. it is despair without anger, without denying the justice of God, but not knowing his loving kindness. it is profound sadness that is without the joy of the Lord. it is a vale of tears that will not flow. it is a life where nothing in this world will satisfy.
I think Mother Theresa of Calcutta experienced this in her latter years.
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thistle
Guest
Turn to our Lord who is the Light.
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OraLabora
Guest
If only it were that simple.
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jeker
Guest
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fred_conty
Guest
St. John of the Cross writes 3 phases of spirituality that a person may pass thru.
These are three tiers or steps, and not everyone goes thru them, and they may be experienced by people differently
Just briefly, dark night of the soul, the illuminative way, and the unitive way.
The first, dark night, is when God purges a person of serious sin, and then venial, and then their faults. There is some feeling that God is missing and they feel like God has left them, from time to time. These times can be greater or lesser. And this whole dark night can be short or long. After this purging of sin, the person enters the next step, the illuminative way. But may fall back to the dark night.
The dark night assumes that the person is struggling to do God’s will. Some people may experience dark times but due to their own self centered interests.
Sometimes God will give some consolations to encourage the person to continue their effort. This may lead them to believe that it is over. But it isn’t. And then the darkness and struggling starts again. This will vary from person to person depending on many factors in a person’s life and how determined they are.
This is one of the reasons we should always thank our Dear Father in heaven for all our trials. For he is a good Father who is shaping us to be close to Him in all that He does. And tho it may seem we have had some misfortune, it is all in his plan to make us happy and in our best interests.
Just a few thoughts.
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Inquiringperson
Guest
Is it possible to have a Dark Night when you are not in a state of Grace?
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mercytruth
Guest
An esteemed theologian, Hans Balthazar by the present Pope, and by Pope John Paul II wrote a book ttiled, "Mysterium Paschale’
His thesis is that our Lord Jesus Christ suffered abandonment of the Father during his passion, crucifixion and especially as he descended into Sheol for the sins of the world.
He makes a strong argument for the fact that one can understand the sufferings of the OT prophets, nor the dark night of the soul of many of our blessed saints without considering that the prophets were prefiguring to a degree the sufferings of the coming Messiah, while the blessed saints were experiencing to a degree the sufferings of the post resurrected Messiah.
I would say that the most dramatic example of the extreme sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ is illustrated by the millions of Jews who suffered the holocaust under Hitler, and the millions of Christians who suffered the gulag under Stalin.
So, to answer your question, I would say this abandonment of God is for the sufferings of the sins of the people of Israel, of the church, and of the world.
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Boulder257
Guest
Actually, I think I read somewhere that Mother Teresa’s Dark Night lasted for close to 50 years. I think this to be amazing when you consider what God accomplished through her despite the fact that she felt abandoned by Him for almost all of her life. At one point she even doubted God’s existence, yet continued with her mission. I mention this certainly not to disparage her, but if you read about her life you realize why we must thank God even in our tribulations and how He is working through us even when we feel He has left us alone.
If someone can confirm this I would appreciate it, because I am going from memory. I certainly don’t want to mislead anyone with incorrect information.
May God Bless you and may you find the answer you are seeking.
If someone can confirm this I would appreciate it, because I am going from memory. I certainly don’t want to mislead anyone with incorrect information.
May God Bless you and may you find the answer you are seeking.
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mercytruth
Guest
I do not know if Mother Theresa’s dark night lasted 50 years, but it did last for a long time. I would agree with you, that even when we feel abandoned by God after having examined our conscience and having gone to confession and if there are no physical, emotional or psychological reasons for one’s state of being, one might assume we are to offer up such sufferings with Jesus Christ for our family members, the church, souls in purgatory or for whomever the burden of the Lord may be placing on our hearts.
St. Paul said that he was travailing in birth until Christ be formed within the hearts of the church of Galatia. Think of it as birthpangs for lost souls, or souls who need to draw closer to God.
God’s peace to you
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mercytruth
Guest
I would also add, that a spiritual advisor/director would definitely be in order. In addition, one must be able to rule out ‘spiritual oppression’ from the forces of darkness. This is involves specific prayer(s) to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and if necessary by a priest.
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Joannm
Guest
Since those who experience the Dark Night are spiritually mature and think of nothing but pleasing God, I would say that a person not in the state of Grace is experiencing the Dark Night. Many people confuse depression with the Dark Night but they are completely different even though the symptoms appear similar.
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mercytruth
Guest
Yes, if one’s soul is pursuing the things of this world, rather than as a contemplative who is seeking the things above, it is not likely one is experiencing the dark night of the soul.
So if a soul is seeking entertainments such as watching television, radio, video games, surfing the internet, etc. and not in daily Mass and/or prayer, or prayerful heart, it is not likely such a soul is experiencing the dark night.
Usually, a soul does not experience the dark night without having been previously raptured with the divine holy love of God. This is a reality that can not be expressed in words.
Such a soul will be loving one’s neighbor as one self. Such a soul will be praying for one’s enemies. Such a soul will know what it is to rest in Him. If such a soul is experiencing intermittent consolations from the Lord, such a soul may be carrying a burden of the Lord, rather than a dark night.
God’s peace.
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guanophore
Guest
It really is that simple. It is the spiritual disciplines that sustain us during such times. We do not “feel” close to God, and may in fact feel like we are lost, or He is lost, and will never be found. Yet, though He slay us, yet we praise Him.
Sometimes people need some psychotherapy or intensive spiritual direction, medication, or treatment of other illnesses that produce some of the same symptoms as the Dark Night.
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Erin117
Guest
Quick question, what is a burden of the Lord? Is that an actual “thing”? And how does it differ from a dark night? Thanks
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OraLabora
Guest
It really is not that simple.
Yes the spiritual disciplines (in my case the Divine Office and Sunday Mass) do help.
But that’s not the entire picture. It’s a survival mechanism until the light comes back in. It isn’t a simple matter of flipping on the light switch. The veil lifts in its own good time. In the interim there is much pain, much searching, and many issues one has to work out for one’s self.
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mercytruth
Guest
If a soul is truly going through the dark night, it is not simple, no it is not. There is no remedy, but waiting on the Lord.
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
Psalm 43.
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people,
from the deceitful and unjust man
deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you rejected me?
Why do I go about mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
Psalm 43.
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mercytruth
Guest
The apostle Paul says that sometimes we pray with ‘groanings that can not be uttered’. I think that may be describing a burden that our Lord places on our heart to pray for someQuick question, what is a burden of the Lord? Is that an actual “thing”? And how does it differ from a dark night? Thanks
particular person, or persons who may not be identifiable to us at the time, but may become known to us in the near future. This may also relate to some sort of ‘prophetic’ burden for a nation which may be in danger of some impending judgment from God. This sort of burden does not remain with us indefinitely.
When the apostle Paul said that he was in ‘birthpangs’ until Christ was formed within the church of Galatia, he was speaking of a ‘burden’ from the Lord that was identifiable to him.
A loving mother has a burden from the Lord, and is in ‘spiritual birthpangs’ for her wayward children.
In the dark night of the soul, there is no relief, there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. It is sorrow that will not cease. There are no consolations from our loving heavenly Father. The blessed saints who underwent this sort of dark night, probably did not exactily know what they were suffering. Yet, after reading Mysterium Paschale, I think God wanted them to know something of the internal sufferings that our Lord Jesus Christ underwent for us, and offer up such sufferings with Christ for the redemption of lost souls.
Granted, I speak as in a glass, seeing darkly, and with a certain amount of conjecture.
God’s peace to you.
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Gertabelle
Guest
Just stumbled on this thread this evening, and what a blessing!
I have been muddling through St John of the Cross’s Ascent of Mount Carmel in which he speaks of the darkness – first of choosing the darkness of the senses, that is , the denial of sensual desire (whether that be a good cup of coffee, a good night’s sleep, or a sinful physical encounter).
One question I have had, especially after hearing a recent phone call on Catholic Answers:
If someone is truly going through the dark night of the soul, wouldn’t God’s grace enable them to keep this experience hidden from others? I mean, isn’t this meant to be an experience which is known only to the person, their confessor/spiritual director, and God? I knew a woman when I was in my teens who used to seemingly boast of the darkness she endured
And one other question I’ve had, if anyone can answer it:
What is the difference between “having doubts” about the faith, and experiencing the dark night of the soul?
God bless you for your previous posts. I look forward to future posts.
Gertie
I have been muddling through St John of the Cross’s Ascent of Mount Carmel in which he speaks of the darkness – first of choosing the darkness of the senses, that is , the denial of sensual desire (whether that be a good cup of coffee, a good night’s sleep, or a sinful physical encounter).
One question I have had, especially after hearing a recent phone call on Catholic Answers:
If someone is truly going through the dark night of the soul, wouldn’t God’s grace enable them to keep this experience hidden from others? I mean, isn’t this meant to be an experience which is known only to the person, their confessor/spiritual director, and God? I knew a woman when I was in my teens who used to seemingly boast of the darkness she endured
And one other question I’ve had, if anyone can answer it:
What is the difference between “having doubts” about the faith, and experiencing the dark night of the soul?
God bless you for your previous posts. I look forward to future posts.
Gertie
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