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Dark Night of the Soul (Dover Thrift Editions: Religion) Paperback – May 9, 2003

by St. John of the Cross (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,585 ratings
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The great Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross became a Carmelite monk in 1563 and helped St. Teresa of Avila to reform the Carmelite order — enduring persecution and imprisonment for his efforts. Both in his writing and in his life, he demonstrated eloquently his love for God. His written thoughts on man's relationship with God were literacy endeavors that placed him on an intellectual and philosophical level with such great writers as St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas.
In this work — a spiritual masterpiece and classic of Christian literature and mysticism — he addresses several subjects, among them pride, avarice, envy, and other human imperfections. His discussion of the "dark night of the spirit," which considers afflictions and pain suffered by the soul, is followed by an extended explanation of divine love and the soul's exultant union with God.
This fine translation by E. Allison Peers "is the most faithful that has appeared in any European language: it is, indeed, much more than a translation for [Peers] added his own valuable historical and [critically interpretive] notes." — London Times.

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  1. Print length
    128 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Dover Publications
  4. Publication date
    May 9, 2003
  5. Reading age
    14 years and up
  6. Dimensions
    5.12 x 0.2 x 8.07 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    9780486426938
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0486426938
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

Dark Night of the Soul Dover Thrift Editions Religion

Dark Night of the Soul St. John of the Cross Dover Publications
A 16th-century mystic, St. John of the Cross was also a Carmelite monk who helped reform the Order.

“Now that I no longer desire all, I have it all without desire.”

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength.”

The great Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross became a Carmelite monk in 1563

He helped St. Teresa of Avila to reform the Carmelite order—enduring persecution and imprisonment for his efforts.

In this book, he addresses pride, avarice, envy, and other human imperfections. He also provides an extended explanation of Divine love, and describes methods of conversion through prayer, submission, and purification.

This fine translation by E. Allison Peers "is the most faithful that has appeared in any European language: it is, indeed, much more than a translation for [Peers] added his own valuable historical and [critically interpretive] notes." — London Times.

Dovers Thrift Edition Library of classic literature - a long standing mission of exceptional value

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0486426939
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dover Publications; unknown edition (May 9, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780486426938
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0486426938
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.76 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.12 x 0.2 x 8.07 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,585 ratings

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Saint John of the Cross

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,585 global ratings
"Dark Night of the Soul" is not the enemy experience we make it out to be!
5 Stars
"Dark Night of the Soul" is not the enemy experience we make it out to be!
A classic, penetrating understanding of the whole subject of "dark night of the soul", by one of its explanation-originators, John of the Cross. A truly helpful and insightful read!
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Top reviews from the United States

Barbara L. Miley
5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this book
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2016
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I purchased this book awhile ago, and am just now offering my response to it. I LOVE this book!! It is easy to read and to understand. It is written in the most beautiful language I have read in years. I look forward to finding myself in the same situation that St. John of the Cross found himself in some day, which was in the midst of a feeling of nothingness...absolutely black, still, quiet, stagnant, nothingness....until he gradually sensed The Beloved was there in the darkness with him. John and his soul were then completely satisfied in their search for the Beloved, and their feelings of emptiness were nourished forever. It is a beautifully written current translation of a very important early spiritual document. Rarely do writers put pen to paper and produce orchestral literary music of the first water that is written in English without notations for a musical score! But Mirabai Starr has composed her work of translating Dark Night of the Soul in such fashion that it fascinates the reader with its beauty, and it's easy to understand. Such an amazing contemporary new transcription of this ancient work depicting the workings of the human spirit in its utmost range of human emotions is a collector's treasure in any reader's well-used library. For today's readers who seek to know what, when, and why, and how, this book should answer all your questions of the spirit. I recommend it!
102 people found this helpful
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Catherine Roche
5.0 out of 5 stars Although Dark Night is often published as a separate, ...
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2014
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Although Dark Night is often published as a separate,entity in truth it is the fourth part of St John's account of his spiritual journey.. He wrote 3 earlier books documenting his experiences and noting the various stages all souls go through if they are on the journey. The soul goes through various stages and in the dark night, it 'imposes upon itself peace and quietness' as it waits for God. The soul undergoes many pains for it needs to purge itself of imperfections brought upon it by our sensuality. The saint advices us not to ask God to take away our sins. We must do it for ourselves, and not succumb to spiritual sloth..
It seems here are all sorts of sins waiting to befall the beginner if he is not careful - the sin of wrath, of gluttony, envy and sloth. I often wondered why we in today's world never seem to bother with the seven deadly sins - its because we're thinking of this empirical world, John is talking about something far more important. He is addressing the sin of the soul..
Purgation of the body and soul results in this dark night which does cause pain and suffering for the seeker. A follower of John, David described the dark night thus:The lamentations of death compassed me about and the pains of hell surrounded me; I cried in my tribulation.' The book is full of symbolism and metaphor to facilitate the readers ability to grasp the subject which by its very nature is elusive.
This is a serious and difficult book to read - it must be read slowly and carefully and at a certain time in ones life when you are ready to accept your spirituality and begin the long journey back to God. It's a road we all will travel.. St John of the Cross helps us on our way..
25 people found this helpful
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Buck Jacobs
5.0 out of 5 stars Meaty and Deep
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2022
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This classic is not for the new believer or the “social Christian” but is a call to the heart open to God and wanting nothing more than the most intimate relationship with Him in Christ. It is a call to the mystical union of “oneness”with our Father that Jesus prays for in John 17. I confess that I’m not there but it is where I want to be.
13 people found this helpful
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James G. Bruen Jr.
4.0 out of 5 stars A Most Difficult Book With Much To Offer
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2014
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This is the most difficult book I have read. I gained much from reading it, but there's no doubt that I missed much too, both on its face and in its depth. That's not too surprising or disturbing, for as John of the Cross says of the soul that "can free itself from the house of its sensuality:" "None can understand it, unless as it seems to me, it be the soul who has experienced it."

St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) was a Spanish mystic, canonized in 1675 and named a doctor of the Catholic Church in 1926. A Carmelite priest, he embraced poverty and, working with Teresa of Avila, attempted to reform the order. His fellow Carmelites imprisoned, starved, and tortured him. While imprisoned he wrote a brief poem, Dark Night of the Soul. He then wrote two books, Ascent of Mount Carmel and Dark Night of the Soul, explaining and interpreting the poem. Or he wrote one book doing that: the translator of this edition views Dark Night as a continuation of the Ascent rather than a separate treatise. Or perhaps he wrote no book: it isn't clear to me that he intended the manuscript for publication; it may have been his personal reflections to aid himself. It was published posthumously, nearly twenty years after his death.

In the Ascent, John wrote of the "active" night; the Dark Night addresses the "passive" night of purification of the sense and spirit to prepare the soul for union with God. By himself even with ordinary grace, man cannot be transformed totally in God. God must act on passive man.

The poem is obscure metaphor. In Dark Night, John often uses more metaphor to explain the metaphors, sometimes obscurely. He is often repetitive. Words seem to change meanings. And the book is incomplete; St. John apparently abandoned it before explicating the entire poem. (This edition contains in translation the complete text of what St. John wrote: it is the Dark Night itself that was unfinished.) I found many passages and metaphors brilliant, but was lost in others. St. John sometimes seems to struggle to explain or describe the inexplicable and indescribable, which may be the reason for the many repetitions and metaphors.

The early passages on "imperfections" relating to the seven deadly sins are a brilliant demonstration that the person free of sin still needs purgation and growth. Also very helpful are the passages in which St. John delineates tests to show whether difficulties flow from the Night and thus God or instead are from the self or the devil or the world.

The Dark Night is a difficult book. The reader will wrestle with it. Most will gain much from the book but also miss much that it tries to offer.
71 people found this helpful
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Ed
5.0 out of 5 stars Great classic, easy to read translation into english
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2022
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I recommend this book and this very affordable edition, only way could be better is if Dover Books sold it even cheaper!

In this book, San Juan de la Cruz guides the reader through a extensive prayer meditation and ensures the reader understands what the prayer meditation is about and does it right by his instructions. There's a mini biography at the introduction of the Saint's life. Great book to read at least once especially if you're a catholic otherwise a participant in the eucharistic churches.
7 people found this helpful
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Charles Dumme
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice book.
Reviewed in Canada on May 2, 2024
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This needs to reread to be understood. However, one of the nicest, scariest spiritual books I've ever purchased.
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Cimal S.
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read to know the depth and a guide to building your spiritual life
Reviewed in India on April 5, 2024
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I haven't read it fully, I had to go through certain chapters multiple times and felt 100% worthy book, especially for those who don't have someone to guide them spiritually. May our blessed lord Jesus Christ bless us all.
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Cimal S.
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read to know the depth and a guide to building your spiritual life
Reviewed in India on April 5, 2024
I haven't read it fully, I had to go through certain chapters multiple times and felt 100% worthy book, especially for those who don't have someone to guide them spiritually. May our blessed lord Jesus Christ bless us all.
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Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars great read...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2022
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It's a book. you read it and then put it back on the shelf.
One person found this helpful
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Eliane de Souza Pastorello
5.0 out of 5 stars Essencial
Reviewed in Brazil on June 4, 2017
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Uma obra essencial para quem desenvolve a espiritualidade. De rara beleza. Um livro que serve como guia aos praticantes de todas as religiões.
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Pugla
4.0 out of 5 stars Different paradigm
Reviewed in Japan on December 30, 2006
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Saint John of the Cross wrote about ideas that I could never see myself following. But I found when I read this book that it gave me some clues about the soul of man. Such men like St. John should be respected, because they are not found too often today.
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