I have decided to stop the Dark Night discussion at Part 50, as I do not want to talk about something beyond my experience. In this spiritual journey, it is absolutely essential not to confuse the study with the experience. I can described the Illuminative and Unitive States, and have done so in the past. But, after the Dark Night series, I shall take yet another break from the process to holiness. Remember, only the perfect see God and we can ask for our Purgatory on earth, which is what this is all about.
St. John helps us all understand the process. One must go through this if one is an adult who has habits of sin, although, of course, God can do it all in a day, an hour a minute, or in fifty years.
I want to go over a few random points in this post.
First of all, St. Teresa states one can still venially sin at this state, but some theologians say nay. I think that imperfections can occur, but that venial sins become more and more rare, as habits of sin are broken.
Temptations come until one breaths one's last breath, and the purpose of the Dark Night is to purge one of sins and and the imperfections. Most commonly, one has to get rid of the thinking sins; those sins which one does not act upon, but which well up from the shrunken hearts to remind us of our impurity. The two greatest temptations in the dark night might surprise one and I have mentioned these before. St. John states these temptations and he is right. These are the temptations to spiritual pride and sexual sins. Amazing-the reality of one's humanity stares one in the face in the Dark Night. All sensual sins have root in the spirit, a point St. John makes clearly. But, there are more subtle sins which the Dark Night reveals.
For example, one many never act on being critical, but find that one has a habit of critical thoughts towards others. This is a sin and shows a habitual imperfection. The same could be of envy, where one would never give in to random thoughts of wishing one had someone's job, status or money, or even love, but one has to let God's light into those dark areas to purge one of even thinking those thoughts. Automatic responses are killed in the Dark Night. One must confess everything which comes up, and this means finding a holy priest who understands the way of perfection.
Second point today, the Dark Night is an odd time of both hard work and complete passivity.
This ebb and flow of cooperating with grace and being passive is totally in God's Hands and in His timing.
St. John writes that in the Dark Night, God "leaves the intellect in darkness; the will in aridity; the memory in emptiness; and the affections in supreme affliction, bitterness, and anguish, by depriving the soul of the feeling and satisfaction it previously obtained form spiritual blessings."
This is suffering. How does this look? One is not loved, or rarely; one does not understand what is happening, nor can one use memory for solace or example; one has no comfort from men or God and is frequently misunderstood; one does not even experience the comforts or solace, for example, at Adoration, one did in the past.
For me, the one word which describes this time is nada, nothing. One no longer expects specific things or people or events, but rests in the knowledge that God is in control. This mode of being demands faith.
Third and last point today--a real sigh of this state is the quiet joy in suffering and a grateful spirit, springing up from new humility. One waits for God to love, and if one does not feel or see this, so what? God is the hidden God, loving anyway.
The Dark Night is the great time for faith, living without seeing; hope, in the promise of a deeper love; and love, which is totally in the will.
To be continued....