The dark night of the soul: the painful purification of the infused presence of God - By: Richard J. Vincent

 

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Not all unpleasant or difficult experiences are a sign of disgust from God. On the contrary, sometimes our most painful feelings and distressing circumstances are the means through which God transforms us deeply. The great Spanish mystic, San Juan de la Cruz, gave a name to this experience: "The dark night of the soul."

The dark night of the soul has become a popular way to describe any painful experience. But not all painful experiences describe as a dark night of the soul. The dark night "is much more significant than simple misfortune. It is a deep transformation, a movement towards indescribable freedom and joy." 1 at the dark night, "the soul is strengthened and confirmed in virtues, and prepares for the invaluable delights of God's love." 2 Only by means of the dark night, and the anguish that accompanies him, can satisfy the deepest desire of one in the spiritual union with God.

“[The] dark night of the soul is a totally loving, healing and liberating process. If you feel that way is another question completely. "3 The reason why the dark night is difficult and disturbing is not because God is absent or inactive in the life of a person. The reason why the dark night is A distressing is precisely because God is working, in a powerful, deep and transformative way.

Rar 13: 3 (summer 2004) p. 28

The dark night is something deeply good. It is a continuous spiritual process in which we are freed from attachments and compulsions and entitled to live and love more freedom. Sometimes, this letting go of old ways is painful, occasionally even devastating. But that's not why the night is called "dark." The darkness of the night does not imply anything sinister, only that liberation takes place in a hidden way, under our knowledge and understanding. It happens mysteriously, secretly and beyond our conscious control. For that reason, it can be disturbing or even scary, but in the end it always works for our benefit.4

John illustrates this with the metaphor of a mother dismissing a child. Through the dark night process, the soul "loses [s] a child's habits and goes to the most important and substantial occupations" (38). This is necessary, because "without such twists [one] I would not learn to reach God" (90).

On the dark night, the believer reaches the end of himself and directly ...