The ascent of Mount Carmel

428 Pages·2011·16.39 MB·English

NIHIL OBSTAT
EDUARDUS BADGER O.C.D.
Censor Deputatus.
IMPRIMI POTEST
GULIELMUS PRAEPOSITUS JOHNSON
Vicarius Generalis.
WESTMONASTERII
DIE 22 FEB. 1906.
THE
ASCENT OF MOUNT CARMEL
BY
ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS.
TRANSLATED BY
DAVID LEWIS
WITH CORRECTIONS AND A PREFATORY ESSAY ON
THE DEVELOPMENT OF MYSTICISM
IN THE
CARMELITE ORDER
BY
BENEDICT ZIMMERMANN,
O.C.D.
Prior of St. Luke's^ Wincanton, Somerset.
LONDON:
THOMAS BAKER.
MCMXXII
5080
115
Impression . . 1906
Second Impression . . 1914
Third Impression . . 1918
Fourth Impression . . 1922
Printed in Great Britain by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld.
London and Aylesbury.
93044
i*Av Q 1Q7A
IU.
CONTENTS.
THE ASCENT OF MOUNT CARMEL.
Argument
Prologue
BOOK
I.
THENATUREOF THE DARK NIGHT, THENECESSITY OF PASSING
AND SPECIALLY THE DARK NIGHT OF SENSE AND DESIRE,
THROUGH IT IN ORDERTOATTAIN TO THEDIVINEUNION
J
WITH THE EVILS WHICH THESE INFLICT UPON THE SOUL.
CHAPTER
I.
Two kinds ofthisnight, correspondingwith the division ofthesoulinto.9
higherand lower
CHAPTER
II.
Thenatureand causeofthe darknight . . . . , . .11
CHAPTER
III.
The firstcause ofthisnight, theprivationofthe desirein all things . 13
CHAPTER IV.
The necessity of passing truly through the dark night ofsense, which is
themortification ofthe desire, in orderto enter on the road ofunion
with God 15
CHAPTER V.
Continuation ofthesame subject. Proofs from scripture ofthenecessity
of drawing near unto God through the dark night of mortified
desires 21
CHAPTER VI.
l*wo great evils oi the desires : negative and positive. Proofs from
Scripture 27
i
IV. CONTENTS.
PAGF
CHAPTER VII.
.
Thedesires tormentthesuul. Proofsand illustrations , . , . 31
CHAPTER VIII.
Thedesiresdarken the soul. Proofsand illustrations . . . .34
CHAPTER IX.
Thedesirespollute the soul. Proofs from Scripture . * , .38
...CH.APT.ER.X. .....
Thedesiresmake the soul lukewarm, and enfeeble virtue. Proofs and
illustrations 43
CHAPTER XL
Thenecessityof freedom from all desires, however slight, for the divine
union 45
CHAPTER XII.
Thenatureof thosedesireswhich sufficetoinjurethe soul . . .51
CHAPTER XIII.
Howthesoul entersbyfaith intothe night of sense . . . . 55
CHAPTER XIV.
Explanationofthesecondline ofthestanza 60
.CHA.PTE.R X.V. .....
Explanationofthelast lines 6l
BOOK
II.
PROXIMATE MEANS OF UNION, FAITH. THE SECOND NIGHT
OF THE SPIRIT.
.CH.APT.ER.I. ...
Thesecondstanza ^ o 63
CHAPTER
II.
The second part, orcause, ofthis night faith. Two reasonswhyit is
darkerthanthe firstand third 66
CHAPTER
III.
Faith, the dark night of the soul. Proofs from reason and the Holy
Scriptures , . . . 67
CONTENTS. V
Mat
CHAPTER
..I.V. .....
Howthe soul mustbe in darkness, in order tobe duly guided by faith
to the highestcontemplation 71
CHAPTER V.
Theunion ofthesoulwith God. Acomparison 76
CHAPTER
VI.
The three theological virtues perfect the powers ofthe soul, andbring
them intoastateof emptinessand darkness. Proofs from S. Luke
and Isaias .82
CHAPTER VII.
The straitness of.the.wa.y of.life..T.he.deta.chme.nt .and .fre8edom6
necessaryfor those whowalk in it. The detachment of the under
standing
CHAPTER VIII.
No creature, no knowledge, comprehensible by theunderstanding, can
subserveas proximate meansofunion with God . . . -93
CHAPTER IX.
Faith is the proximate and proportionate means oftheunderstandingby
which the soul mayattain tothedivineunionoflove. Proofsfrom
theHoly Scriptures 99
CHAPTER X.
Thedivisionsoftheapprehensionsand actsoftheunderstanding . . 103
CHAPTER XI.
Ofthehurtandhindrance resulting from theapprehensionsof the under
sotuatnwdairndgsseunpseers.natuHroalwly tphreodsuoculedisthtrooubgehgtuhiedeidnsutnrdumeerntsaulcihtyciorfcutmhe
stances IO3
CHAPTER XII.
Ofnatural and imaginary apprehensions. Their nature. Theycannot
be proportionate means of union. The evil resultsofnot knowing U*
howtodetachoneselffrom them in time
CHAPTER XIII.
The signstobeobserved by thespiritual man that he may know when
towithdraw the understandingfrom imnginary formsand discursive
meditations IJ
CHAPTER XIV.
The fitness of these signs. The necessity of observing them for "I
spiritual progress .
71. CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER XV.
OS the occasional necessity of meditating, and ex'.'/(j/ig the natural
facultieson the partof those whobegin to enteron the contempla
tivestate 131
CHAPTER XVI.
Oi imaginary apprehensions supernaturally represented to the fancy.
They cannot beproximatemeansofunion with God . . . 134
CHAPTER XVII.
Of the endsand waysofGod in communicatingspiritual blessings to the
soulthrough thesenses. Answertothe question proposed . . 143
CHAPTER XVIII.
Howarsioguhltstthinroiungjhurtehdesbeecvaiusisoenst.heir.Hspoirwi.ttuhales.deirveics.tioornss,.dtohonu.ogthgfu.riodme.Gtohde,m
becomeoccasionsoferror 150
CHAPTER XIX.
Visions, revelations, and locutions, though true and from God, may
deceive. Proofsfrom HolyScripture 156
CHAPTER XX.
Proofs from Scripture that thedivinelocutions, though always true, are
notalwayscertainin theircauses . . . . . .166
CHAPTER XXI.
God isattimesdispleased withcertain prayers, though He answersthem.
IllustrationsofHisanger with such prayers . . . . .172
CHAPTER XXII.
Itisnotlawful, underthenew law, asitwasunder theold, toenquireof
God by supernatural ways. This doctrineprofitable fortheunder
standingofthe mysteriesof ourholy faith. Proofs from S. Paul . 182
CHAPTER XXIII.
Ofthepurelyspiritualapprehensionsof theunderstanding . . .195
CHAPTER XXIV.
Of the two kinds of spiritual visions which come by the supernatural
way 198
CHAPTER XXV.. .....
Of revelations: theirnatureanddivision 204
CHAPTER XXVI.
Fie knowledge of pure truths. Two kinds thereof. The conduct of
<&esoultherein . 20
CONTENTS.
Vil.
CHAPTER XXVII. I'Al.E
Ofthe second kind of revelations, the disclosure of secretsandhidden
mysteries. How they may subserve and hinder the divine union.
Ofthe manydelusionsofthe devilincidentto them . . . .216
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Of the interior locations which occur supernalurally. Their different
kinds 220
CHAPTER XXIX.
Of the first kind of words formed by the mind self-recollected. The
causesofthem. The advantagesand disadvantagesof them . . 221
CHAPTER XXX.
Ofinteriorwordsformallywroughtina supernaturalway. Ofthedangers
incident thereto; and a necessarycaution againstdelusions . . 229
CHAPTER XXXI.
Of theinteriorsubstantial locutions: the difference between them and
the formal. The profitableness of them. The resignation and
reverence ofthesoul in respectofthem 233
CHAPTER XXXII.
Of intellectual apprehensions resulting from the interior impressions
supernaturally effected. Thesources"of them. Theconducttobe
observed bythe soul so that these apprehensions shall not hinder
itonthe wayofunion . 235
BOOK
III.
THE PURGATION AND ACTIVE NIGHT OF THE MEMORY
AND THE WILL.
CHAPTER
I.
Ofthenaturalapprehensions ofthe memory: which is to be emptied of
them, thatthesoul, accordingtothatfaculty, maybeunitedwithGod. 241
CHAPTER
II.
Threweiktihnrdesspoefcetvitlostthoewkhniocwhletdhgeesaonuldirsefllieacbtlieonwshoefnthneotmeinmodrayr.kneEssx;
planationofthe first 250
CHAPTER
III.
.... ...
Ofthesecond evil, coming from the evil spirit through the natural ap
prehensions ofthememory 253
Vlll. CONTENTS.
VMM
CHAPTER
IV.
Ofthethird evil, proceedingfrom the distinct natural knowledge of the
memory 255
CHAPTER V.
The profitableness of forgetfulness and emptiness, with regard to all
thoughtsandknowledge, which naturallyoccurto the memory . 256
CHAPTER VI.
Of thesecond kind of apprehensions: the imaginaryand supernatural . 259
CHAPTER
VII.
Theevilsinflicted on the soul by the knowledge of supernatural things
if reflectedupon. Their number 260
CHAPTER VIII.
Of the second evil : the dangerof self-conceit and presumption . . 263
CHAPTER IX.
Of the third evil : the work of the devil through the imaginaryappre
hensionsof thememory 265
CHAPTE.R X.. .....
Of the fourth evil of the distinct supernatural apprehensions of the
memory: theimpedimenttounion 267
CHAPTER XL
Of the fifth evil, resulting from the imaginary supernatural apprehen
sions: lowandunseemlyviewsof God 267
CHAPTER XII.
The benefits of withdrawing the soul from the appre.hens.ions.of.the
imagination. Answertoan objection. The difference between the
naturalandsupernatural imaginaryapprehensions 270
CHAPTER XIII.
Of spiritual knowledgeasit relatestothe memory 277
CHAPTER XIV.
Generaldirections for the guidance of the spiritual man in relation to
the memory 278
CHAPTER XV.
Of the obscure night of the will. Proofs from Deuteronomy and the
Psalms. Division ofthe affectionsofthe will 281
CHAPTER XVI.
Ofthefirstaffection of the will. Whatjay is. Its diverssources . 284