The ascent of Mount Carmel

The ascent of Mount Carmel

Author: John of the Cross, Saint, 1542-1591

Year: 1906

THE ASCENT OF MOUNT CARMEL. Argument i Prologue 3 BOOK I. THE NATURE OF THE DARK NIGHT, THE NECESSITY OF PASSING AND SPECIALLY THE DARK NIGHT OF SENSE AND DESIRE, THROUGH IT IN ORDER TO ATTAIN TO THE DIVINE UNION ; - WITH THE EVILS WHICH THESE INFLICT UPON THE SOUL. CHAPTER I. Two kinds of this night, corresponding with the division of the soul into higher and lower 9 CHAPTER II. The nature and cause of the dark night 11 CHAPTER III. The first cause of this night, the privation of the desire in all things 13 CHAPTER IV. The necessity of passing truly through the dark night of sense, which is the mortification of the desire, in order to enter on the road of union with God 15 CHAPTER V. Continuation of the same subject. Proofs from scripture of the necessity of drawing near unto God through the dark night of mortified desires 21 CHAPTER VI. Two great evils of the desires : negative and positive. Proofs from Scripture 27 CHAPTER VII. The desires torment the soul. Proofs and illustrations 31 CHAPTER VIII. The desires darken the soul. Proofs and illustrations 34 CHAPTER IX. The desires pollute the soul. Proofs from Scripture 38 CHAPTER X. The desires make the soul lukewarm, and enfeeble