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