Dark Night

[Bix]

Is there such a thing as two dark nights of the soul?

Can a person go through this twice? If so, why?

Thank you and God Bless

 

[Dorothy]

According to St. John of the Cross, Mystical Doctor of prayer, there are two nights of the soul.

The first night is called the night of the senses, and the second night is called the night of the spirit.

Very few people go through the second night, which requires much generosity on the part of God’s grace, and the recipient of that grace.

Usually a person goes in and out of the night of the senses, and doesn’t progress much because they are not prayerful and focused enough.

If you are interested in reading more about the prayer journey there are many books about St. John of the Cross and his description of the spiritual journey.

 

[JohnMPhilomena]

I don’t think there are any limits to what God does. The more we try to understand His ways, the more we fall short of understanding. If there can be one dark period, why couldn’t there be two or three…

Why does He do this to some people? Because He loves them. This sounds contraditory, because it is a mystery.

My guess is He wants us to persevere. He wants us to try whatever we can think of to get Him back. But it is not for us to understand. We just have to trust him.

So my advice would be:

1. Participate in the sacraments as often as possible: (confession, communion).
2. Spiritual reading - the Bible, St Faustina’s diaray, St Augustine’s writings.
3. Pray the Divine Mercy chaplet regularly and venerate the Divine Mercy image (Jesus, I trust in you).

Peace,
John

 

[Dorothy]

A good book to start with would be “Fire Within” by Father Thomas Dubay.

It is about both the mystical doctors on prayer, St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila.

In it he makes the point that we are all called to be contemplatives to one degree or another. That is truly the prayerful way to live the Christian life.

 

[Bix]

I don’t think there are any limits to what God does. The more we try to understand His ways, the more we fall short of understanding. If there can be one dark period, why couldn’t there be two or three…

Why does He do this to some people? Because He loves them. This sounds contraditory, because it is a mystery.

My guess is He wants us to persevere. He wants us to try whatever we can think of to get Him back. But it is not for us to understand. We just have to trust him.
John

I’m not saying I am, but just curious… You said that He does this in order for us to get Him back. I don’t understand. This is something people go through who don’t have God in their life? I’m a little confused. Can you please explain?

 

[Bix]

A good book to start with would be “Fire Within” by Father Thomas Dubay.

It is about both the mystical doctors on prayer, St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila…

Thank you for the recommendations. Is there a brief or easy way to explain the difference between the two?

 

[Dorothy]

Thank you for the recommendations. Is there a brief or easy way to explain the difference between the two?

Well, briefly, the first night helps to rid us of the desire for spiritual consolations, subtle jealousy of the holiness of others, the desire to be esteemed by others, etc. it is allowing God to rid us of certain spiritual defects that we were not aware of before we started a life of serious prayer.

The second night goes deeper, and it removes the deep “roots” of sin and increases (if God so wills) the depth and frequency of true contemplative prayer.

 

[JohnMPhilomena]

I’m not saying I am, but just curious… You said that He does this in order for us to get Him back. I don’t understand. This is something people go through who don’t have God in their life? I’m a little confused. Can you please explain?

It may be a misunderstanding on my part. I thought a dark night of the soul is when God witholds His presence from the soul. I had heard that Mother Theresa experienced this, but again I could be mistaken.

 

[Bix]

It may be a misunderstanding on my part. I thought a dark night of the soul is when God witholds His presence from the soul. I had heard that Mother Theresa experienced this, but again I could be mistaken.

I could be wrong as well, but I believe or thought the person knows God is there, has faith, but has a feeling of emptiness. A distance they can’t reach… As if he’s very distant. (along with a few other things)

From your initial response, I had thought you meant it was something unbelievers went through which was what had confused me. So, people can go through multiple 1st dark nights or a 2nd type of dark night as well? I’m just curious what the differences are.

 

[Joannm]

It may be a misunderstanding on my part. I thought a dark night of the soul is when God witholds His presence from the soul. I had heard that Mother Theresa experienced this, but again I could be mistaken.

The Dark Night can also be confused with depression when God doesn’t seem to be around and a person feels down. The Dark Night is experienced by those who are very spiritually mature and have already experienced God in a very close way. It appears as if God is gone, He does not withold His presence. The person who experiences this still remains faithful and if fact is very close to God as he or she engages in contemplation and union with God. But the pain he or she experiences is as if God is absent. It is not that things go wrong and the person feels God isn’t helping them. God is so close to them that they cannot sense God. It is as if their will and God’s will are one. That is why God may do this with only the spiritually mature. It is as if one is blinded by a bright light. They cannot see because the light is so bright.

 

[JohnMPhilomena]

The Dark Night can also be confused with depression when God doesn’t seem to be around and a person feels down. The Dark Night is experienced by those who are very spiritually mature and have already experienced God in a very close way. It appears as if God is gone, He does not withold His presence. The person who experiences this still remains faithful and if fact is very close to God as he or she engages in contemplation and union with God. But the pain he or she experiences is as if God is absent. It is not that things go wrong and the person feels God isn’t helping them. God is so close to them that they cannot sense God. It is as if their will and God’s will are one. That is why God may do this with only the spiritually mature. It is as if one is blinded by a bright light. They cannot see because the light is so bright.

That makes sense. I think St Faustina also experienced these dark periods if I’m interpreting her diary correctly.