The Greatest of All Mystical Theologians

By John, Saint

Book Id: WPLBN0000694385
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 792.21 KB.
Reproduction Date: 2004

Title:	The Greatest of All Mystical Theologians
Author:	John, Saint
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Religion, Christian literature, Christian theology
Collections:	Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Christian Classics Ethereal Library


Citation APA MLA Chicago John, S. (n.d.). The Greatest of All Mystical Theologians. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.us/

Excerpt
Excerpt: Thus has Thomas Merton described St. John of the Cross, echoing the considered judgment of most authorities on the spiritual life; and here in this volume is the great mystic's most widely appealing work. Ascent of Mount Carmel is an incomparable guide to the spiritual life -- because its author has lived his own counsel. Addressed to informed Christians who aspire to grow in union with God, it examines every category of spiritual experience, the spurious as well as the authentic. With rare insight into human psychology it not only tells how to become more closely united with God, but spells out in vivid detail the pitfalls to avoid.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents: Book I -- Chapter I.--Sets down the first stanza. Describes two different nights through -- which spiritual persons pass, according to the two parts of man, the lower -- and the higher. Expounds the stanza which follows -- Chapter II.--Explains the nature of this dark night through which the soul says -- that it has passed on the road to union -- Chapter III.--Speaks of the first cause of this night, which is that of the privation -- of the desire in all things, and gives the reason for which it is called night -- Chapter IV.--Wherein is declared how necessary it is for the soul truly to pass -- through this dark night of sense, which is mortification of desire, in order -- that it may journey to union with God -- Chapter V.--Wherein the aforementioned subject is treated and continued, and it is -- shown by passages and figures from Holy Scripture how necessary it is for -- the soul to journey to God through this dark night of the mortification of -- desire in all things -- Chapter VI.--Wherein are treated two serious evils caused in the soul by the -- desires, the one evil being privative and the other positive -- Chapter VII.--Wherein is shown how the desires torment the soul. This is proved -- likewise by comparisons and quotations -- Chapter VIII.--Wherein is shown how the desires darken and blind the soul -- Chapter IX.--Wherein is described how the desires defile the soul. This is proved by -- comparisons and quotations from Holy Scripture -- Chapter X.--Wherein is described how the desires weaken the soul in virtue and -- make it lukewarm -- Chapter XI.--Wherein it is proved necessary that the soul that would attain to