Before I answer that I should reacquaint myself with the details of both of those types of “dark nights”. I’m inclined to say “both” but at the same time I think the actual dark night is not something most people experience, probably not even me. Spiritual desolation isn’t usually “the dark night”. As John of the Cross and others have characterized it. But a Dark Night always involves spiritual desolation. The Dark Night, properly speaking, is more intense and only the very holy are drawn into it…probably because only the very holy can handle it.
Sorry I don’t have a better and more direct answer for you.
I can't believe I wrote this Spiritual Darkness series almost two years ago. It seems like a lifetime ago, yet feels like just yesterday. Maybe I should do a follow up in a Part-3, talking about how (or whether) I've come through my own spiritual darkness. I can say this much: The quote I opened with, “It is nevertheless true that before bringing peace to a given place, He makes war with it," hits different today than it did when I put it in this essay.
Great post! When I feel dry it helps me to revisit how dry I felt before really trying to follow the path of Christ. St Augustine said it best, my dryness...
“Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.”
He came to me first, when my soul was in its true “dark night.” St Therese of Liseux, the little flower, speaks of the flower basically hanging there as the cloud that blocked the Son temporarily passes by. Hang in there! You (with Jesus) got this!
"Don't make the dark your friend" is such an excellent turn of phrase.
I think "victim culture" glories in how much they suffer--their identity wraps around their grievance, as if that is how they will exact some kind of worldly justice.
But letting God take it, and do the heavy lifting, allows us to let go of our wounds and focus on the productive spiritual tasks you suggest.
Wonderful, post, in a wonderful series. Thank you for this!
Your comments are always so thoughtful and edifying for me. “Victim culture” can be very tempting because it speaks to an inner child that wants attention, or that wants care (or wants to be lazy). An added layer is that those who “want care” don’t really want to be treated because after they’re treated they’ll no longer need care. It’s the NEED of care that they become reliant on more than the care itself. Which is odd.
People of certain temperaments are more drawn to victimhood than others and have to fight harder to resist it, or to climb out of it if they’re already in it.
Great thoughts as always my friend. I’m so glad you enjoyed these articles. Thanks for your amazing support!!
Did you go through the dark night of the senses, or the dark night of the spirit?
Before I answer that I should reacquaint myself with the details of both of those types of “dark nights”. I’m inclined to say “both” but at the same time I think the actual dark night is not something most people experience, probably not even me. Spiritual desolation isn’t usually “the dark night”. As John of the Cross and others have characterized it. But a Dark Night always involves spiritual desolation. The Dark Night, properly speaking, is more intense and only the very holy are drawn into it…probably because only the very holy can handle it.
Sorry I don’t have a better and more direct answer for you.
I can't believe I wrote this Spiritual Darkness series almost two years ago. It seems like a lifetime ago, yet feels like just yesterday. Maybe I should do a follow up in a Part-3, talking about how (or whether) I've come through my own spiritual darkness. I can say this much: The quote I opened with, “It is nevertheless true that before bringing peace to a given place, He makes war with it," hits different today than it did when I put it in this essay.
Great post! When I feel dry it helps me to revisit how dry I felt before really trying to follow the path of Christ. St Augustine said it best, my dryness...
“Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would have not been at all. You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you. I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for your peace.”
He came to me first, when my soul was in its true “dark night.” St Therese of Liseux, the little flower, speaks of the flower basically hanging there as the cloud that blocked the Son temporarily passes by. Hang in there! You (with Jesus) got this!
"Don't make the dark your friend" is such an excellent turn of phrase.
I think "victim culture" glories in how much they suffer--their identity wraps around their grievance, as if that is how they will exact some kind of worldly justice.
But letting God take it, and do the heavy lifting, allows us to let go of our wounds and focus on the productive spiritual tasks you suggest.
Wonderful, post, in a wonderful series. Thank you for this!
Your comments are always so thoughtful and edifying for me. “Victim culture” can be very tempting because it speaks to an inner child that wants attention, or that wants care (or wants to be lazy). An added layer is that those who “want care” don’t really want to be treated because after they’re treated they’ll no longer need care. It’s the NEED of care that they become reliant on more than the care itself. Which is odd.
People of certain temperaments are more drawn to victimhood than others and have to fight harder to resist it, or to climb out of it if they’re already in it.
Great thoughts as always my friend. I’m so glad you enjoyed these articles. Thanks for your amazing support!!