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St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER V

CHAPTER V Wherein is described what is meant by union of the soul with God. A comparison is given.[231] FROM what has been said above it becomes clear to some extent what we mean by union of the soul with God; what we now say about it, therefore, will be the better understood. It is not my intention... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VI Wherein is described how it is the three theological virtues that perfect the three faculties of the soul, and how the said virtues produce emptiness and darkness within them. HAVING now to endeavour to show how[236] the three faculties of the soul -- understanding, memory and will -- are... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VII Wherein is described how strait is the way that leads to eternal life and how completely detached and disencumbered must be those that will walk in it. We begin to speak of the detachment of the understanding. WE have now to describe the detachment and purity of the three faculties of th... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER VIII Which describes in a general way how no creature and no knowledge that can be comprehended by the understanding can serve as a proximate means of Divine union with God. BEFORE we treat of the proper and fitting means of union with God, which is faith, it behoves us to prove how no thing... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER X

CHAPTER X Wherein distinction is made between all apprehensions and types of knowledge which can be comprehended by the understanding. IN order to treat in detail of the profit and the harm which may come to the soul, with respect to this means to Divine union which we have described -- namely, fait... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XI Of the hindrance and harm that may be caused by apprehensions of the understanding which proceed from that which is supernaturally represented to the outward bodily senses; and how the soul is to conduct itself therein. THE first kinds of knowledge whereof we have spoken in the preceding ... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XII

CHAPTER XII Which treats of natural imaginary apprehensions. Describes their nature and proves that they cannot be a proportionate means of attainment to union with God. Shows the harm which results from inability to detach oneself from them. BEFORE we treat of the imaginary visions which are wont t... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XIII

CHAPTER XIII Wherein are set down the signs which the spiritual person will find in himself whereby he may know at what season it behoves him to leave meditation and reasoning and pass to the state of contemplation. IN order that there may be no confusion in this instruction it will be meet in this ... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XIV Wherein is proved the fitness of these signs, and the reason is given why that which has been said in speaking of them is necessary to progress. WITH respect to the first sign whereof we are speaking -- that is to say, that the spiritual person who would enter upon the spiritual road (wh... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XIX

CHAPTER XIX Wherein is expounded and proved how, although visions and locutions which come from God are true, we may be deceived about them. This is proved by quotations from Divine Scripture. FOR two reasons we have said that, although visions and locutions which come from God are true, and in them... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XV

CHAPTER XV Wherein is explained how it is sometimes well for progressives who are beginning to enter upon this general knowledge of contemplation to make use of natural reasoning and the work of the natural faculties. WITH regard to that which has been said, there might be raised one question -- if ... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER XVI Which treats of the imaginary apprehensions that are supernaturally represented in the fancy. Describing how they cannot serve the soul as a proximate means to union with God. NOW that we have treated of the apprehensions which the soul can receive within itself by natural means, and whe... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XVII

CHAPTER XVII Wherein is described the purpose and manner of God in His communication of spiritual blessings to the soul by means of the senses. Herein is answered the question which has been referred to. THERE is much to be said concerning the purpose of God, and concerning the manner wherein He giv... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XVIII

CHAPTER XVIII Which treats of the harm that certain spiritual masters may do to souls when they direct them not by a good method with respect to the visions aforementioned. Describes also how these visions may cause deception even though they be of God. IN this matter of visions we cannot be as brie... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XX

CHAPTER XX Wherein is proved by passages from Scripture how the sayings and words of God, though always true, do not always rest upon stable causes. WE have now to prove the second reason why visions and words which come from God, although in themselves they are always true, are not always stable in... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXI

CHAPTER XXI Wherein is explained how at times, although God answers the prayers that are addressed to Him, He is not pleased that we should use such methods. It is also shown how, although He condescend to us and answer us, He is oftentimes wroth. CERTAIN spiritual men, as we have said, assure thems... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXII

CHAPTER XXII Wherein is solved a difficulty -- namely, why it is not lawful, under the law of grace, to ask anything of God by supernatural means, as it was under the old law. This solution is proved by a passage from Saint Paul. DIFFICULTIES keep coming to our mind, and thus we cannot progress with... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXIII

CHAPTER XXIII Which begins to treat of the apprehensions of the understanding that come in a purely spiritual way, and describes their nature. ALTHOUGH the instruction that we have given with respect to the apprehensions of the understanding which come by means of sense is somewhat brief, in compari... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXIV

CHAPTER XXIV Which treats of two kinds of spiritual vision that come supernaturally. SPEAKING now strictly of those visions which are spiritual, and are received without the intervention of any bodily sense, I say that there are two kinds of vision than can be received by the understanding: the one ... Read More
St. John of the Cross

Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXIX

CHAPTER XXIX Which treats of the first kind of words that the recollected spirit sometimes forms within itself. Describes the cause of these and the profit and the harm which there may be in them. These successive words always come when the spirit is recollected and absorbed very attentively in some... Read More

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