Things that go bump in the night.
Don’t jump to conclusions.
Since Bl. Teresa of Calcutta’s ‘trial of faith’ has gained such notice recently, many people have once again become aware of the so-called ‘dark night of the soul’ as it relates to contemplatives. Having said that, it has long been popular amongst religious people to suggest they are in a dark night when they meet with any type of aridity or discouragement in their spiritual life. In many cases I think this can be attributed to a misunderstanding or ignorance concerning the dynamics involved in the very real phenomenon of the two nights, the night of the senses and the night of the spirit.
In a sense, it may be presumptuous for a soul to attempt to self-analyze itself, or another, as suffering the effects of the dark night. Unless the person is under good spiritual direction with a priest, who knows his mystical theology of course, I can’t see how someone may claim such a thing. Nevertheless, ’spiritual’ people like to throw this term around whenever they encounter any sort of purifying trial in their spiritual life. Everyone needs to remember that the spiritual life does not consist in unending consolations and satisfactions, but in keeping the commandments, the fulfillment of one’s duties in one’s state in life, seeking God’s will and exercising oneself in charity - all for the honor and glory of God. This is what constitutes a generous and holy life.
“The night of the senses is common and comes to many, these are the beginners.”- John of the Cross
I’m fairly certain that most lay-people (myself included!) have barely begun to be beginners in the spiritual life - as far as the contemplative life is concerned. By definition, the night of the senses implies a generous mortification of the appetites and denial as regards the gratification of the senses. When a person with many attachments, or even addictions, finds himself spiritually desolate and without consolation, I think it is a mistake to term this an experience of the dark night.
When Teresa of Avila writes about beginners in prayer, she writes that in the beginning (when a soul begins to practice mental prayer or meditation), as the soul accustoms itself to spending long periods in meditation, the soul oftentimes will feel little except agitation and distraction, or simply dryness. She explains this is because the soul, still filled with self, cannot help but feel the difference between itself and the One with whom she is attempting to converse. (Of course she counsels that we ought to persevere in this prayer since it is through prayer that we will find healing and freedom from our sins, faults and attachments. Nevertheless, this is not necessarily the dark night.)
“The night of the spirit is the portion of a very few.”- St. John of the Cross
What I’m trying to say is this: More often than not, in the average Christian’s experience, this thing we like to refer to as the dark night can be attributed to our nature. Self-indulgence, worldly cares, sin, and inordinate attachments often can be the cause of our spiritual distress or lack of faith. Likewise, depression and emotional instability can also be a major factor.
In her Autobiogrphy, Teresa of Avila wrote about how exhausted she was, physically, mentally and spiritually in trying to maintain friendship with the world and friendship with God through the practice of prayer. She wrote, “Prayer is incompatible with self-indulgence.” At this stage in her life, she knew the necessity for absolute asceticism in her life, yet continued her friendship with the world, and her indulgence in vain trivialities.
Voluntary disquietude.
Certainly St. Teresa was without serious sin in her life, and ever faithful to the minimum requirements of her state - yet she suffered this disquietude of soul. I believe her example illustrates for us that what we like to call the ‘dark night’ may often be more a matter of a troubled conscience, or some aspect of seeking oneself in God. Our sufferings may emanate more from ourselves - our selfish self-indulgence, which may provide us with a purely natural explanation as to the source of the problem. Yet even this can be purifying and sanctifying, provided we are humble and keep trying, trusting in the mercy of God.
“If then the light within you is darkness, how deep will that darkness be!”- Matthew 6. I doubt the Lord was referring to the “dark night of the soul” here.
