Has This Ever Happened To Anyone?

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

[quote name='XIX' post='1466862' date='Feb 21 2008, 06:01 PM']Hmmmm...

I dunno if it's quite dramatic enough for it to really be a dark night. I'd have to look into that more and do quite a bit of discernment. This particular stint has only lasted a few days so far. I did have an image yesterday--I was in this small prayer circle, and I had an image where I was just a skeleton and I completely collapsed to the floor. I thought it described me rather well...especially the collapsing part.

Thanks everyone for the encouraging replies.[/quote]

Well i wanted to check up on this.

There may be something I need to clarify.

There are two kinds of Dark Nights that San Juan de la Cruz describes. The first being the dark night of sense, the second being the dark night of the soul.

the dark night of the soul is pretty dramatic, pretty extreme, and happens to very few people who are called to extraordinary holiness.

the dark night of sense is simple, and happens to any committed devotee and lover of God. The dark night of the soul is characterized by exactly what has been described. I left my copy out in california, and i cannot quote directly from it. but the purpose of the dark night of sense, is to cast of those sensible comforts and feelings that draw us to God. it allows the soul to freely choose God, and not the feelings that our hearts produce by worship of him. This is by no means dramatic, and typically it is not painful. the soul finds peace beyond mere comfort by simple contemplation rather than by strenuous meditative exercises.

I think what the skeleton says is this. You need a bare bones spirituality. the dark night casts off all the illusions of self that we like and are comfortable with. bare bones Faith in God doesnt require feelings for somebody to decide to follow him for love.

I do not claim to be an expert on San Juan, but I hope you can trust me, a poor Augustinian Friar, who did spend time in discernment with Discalced Carmelites, and used to spend much time with the Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Los Angeles who gave a variety of workshops in serious prayer-ful spirituality, and even my Augustinian Novitiate had a seminar on this very topic. So what i am asking is that you trust this holy saint of God St. John of the Cross!

Edited February 27, 2008 by MC IMaGiNaZUN

[Seatbelt Blue]

The desert is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be embraced.

[MC IMaGiNaZUN]

I wish I had your audicity and wisdom to speak with such clarity!!!
lol
shalom bro mark

[He is Risen!]

When I start to feel dry in prayer, sometimes reading something written by a great saint or plunging myself into the Bible helps. I like to think of the writings of the saints as friends giving me advice. It is impossible to be on that lovesick post-Eucharist cloud all the time. Don't give up!