Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
Sets down the first stanza. Describes two different nights through which spiritual persons pass, according to the two parts of man, the lower and the higher. Expounds the stanza which follows.
STANZA THE FIRST
On a dark night, Kindled in lo ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
Explains the nature of this dark night through which the soul says that it has passed on the road to union.
On A Dark Night
WE may say that there are three reasons for which this journey[80] made by the soul to union with God is called n ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
Speaks of the first cause of this night, which is that of the privation of the desire in all things, and gives the reason for which it is called night.
WE here describe as night the privation of every kind of pleasure which belongs to the d ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
Wherein is declared how necessary it is for the soul truly to pass through this dark night of sense, which is mortification of desire, in order that it may journey to union with God.
THE reason for which it is necessary for the soul, in orde ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
Wherein is described how the desires defile the soul. This is proved by comparisons and quotations from Holy Scripture.
THE fourth evil which the desires cause in the soul is that they stain and defile it, as is taught in Ecclesiasticus, in ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
Wherein the aforementioned subject is treated and continued, and it is shown by passages and figures from Holy Scripture how necessary it is for the soul to journey to God through this dark night of the mortification of desire in all things.
... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
Wherein are treated two serious evils caused in the soul by the desires, the one evil being privative and the other positive.
IN order that what we have said may be the more clearly and fully understood, it will be well to set down here and ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
Wherein is shown how the desires torment the soul. This is proved likewise by comparison and quotations.
THE second kind of positive evil which the desires cause the soul is in their tormenting and afflicting of it, after the manner of one ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
Wherein is shown how the desires darken and blind the soul.
THE third evil that the desires cause in the soul is that they blind and darken it. Even as vapours darken the air and allow not the bright sun to shine; or as a mirror that is cl ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
Wherein is described how the desires weaken the soul in virtue and make it lukewarm.
THE fifth way in which the desires harm the soul is by making it lukewarm and weak, so that it has no strength to follow after virtue and to persevere therei ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
Wherein it is proved necessary that the soul that would attain to Divine union should be free from desires, however slight they be.
I EXPECT that for a long time the reader has been wishing to ask whether it be necessary, in order to attain ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
Which treats of the answer to another question, explaining what the desires are that suffice to cause the evils aforementioned in the soul.
WE might write at greater length upon this matter of the night of sense, saying all that there is to ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
Wherein is described the manner and way which the soul must follow in order to enter this night of sense.
IT now remains for me to give certain counsels whereby the soul may know how to enter this night of sense and may be able so to do. T ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
Wherein is expounded the second line of the stanza.
Kindled in love with yearnings.
NOW that we have expounded the first line of this stanza, which treats of the night of sense, explaining what this night of sense is, and why it is called ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK I - CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
Wherein are expounded the remaining lines of the aforementioned stanza.
. . . oh, happy chance! -- I went forth without being observed, My house being now at rest.
THESE lines take as a metaphor the miserable estate of captivity, a man's d ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
In darkness and secure, By the secret ladder, disguised -- oh, happy chance! -- In darkness and in concealment, My house being now at rest.
IN this second stanza the soul sings of the happy chance which it experienced in stripping the spiri ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
Which begins to treat of the second part or cause of this night, which is faith. Proves by two arguments how it is darker than the first and than the third.
WE now go on to treat of the second part of this night, which is faith; this is the ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
How faith is dark night to the soul. This is proved with arguments and quotations and figures from Scripture.
FAITH, say the theologians, is a habit of the soul, certain and obscure. And the reason for its being an obscure habit is that it ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER IV
Treats in general of how the soul likewise must be in darkness, in so far as this rests with itself, to the end that it may be effectively guided by faith to the highest contemplation.
IT is now, I think, becoming clear how faith is dark nig ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER IX
How faith is the proximate and proportionate means to the understanding whereby the soul may attain to the Divine union of love. This is proved by passages and figures from Divine Scripture.
FROM what has been said it is to be inferred that, ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER V
CHAPTER V
Wherein is described what is meant by union of the soul with God. A comparison is given.[231]
FROM what has been said above it becomes clear to some extent what we mean by union of the soul with God; what we now say about it, therefore, will ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VI
Wherein is described how it is the three theological virtues that perfect the three faculties of the soul, and how the said virtues produce emptiness and darkness within them.
HAVING now to endeavour to show how[236] the three faculties of t ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VII
Wherein is described how strait is the way that leads to eternal life and how completely detached and disencumbered must be those that will walk in it. We begin to speak of the detachment of the understanding.
WE have now to describe the de ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER VIII
Which describes in a general way how no creature and no knowledge that can be comprehended by the understanding can serve as a proximate means of Divine union with God.
BEFORE we treat of the proper and fitting means of union with God, whi ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER X
CHAPTER X
Wherein distinction is made between all apprehensions and types of knowledge which can be comprehended by the understanding.
IN order to treat in detail of the profit and the harm which may come to the soul, with respect to this means to ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XI
Of the hindrance and harm that may be caused by apprehensions of the understanding which proceed from that which is supernaturally represented to the outward bodily senses; and how the soul is to conduct itself therein.
THE first kinds of kn ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XII
Which treats of natural imaginary apprehensions. Describes their nature and proves that they cannot be a proportionate means of attainment to union with God. Shows the harm which results from inability to detach oneself from them.
BEFORE ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIII
Wherein are set down the signs which the spiritual person will find in himself whereby he may know at what season it behoves him to leave meditation and reasoning and pass to the state of contemplation.
IN order that there may be no confus ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XIV
Wherein is proved the fitness of these signs, and the reason is given why that which has been said in speaking of them is necessary to progress.
WITH respect to the first sign whereof we are speaking -- that is to say, that the spiritual pe ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XIX
Wherein is expounded and proved how, although visions and locutions which come from God are true, we may be deceived about them. This is proved by quotations from Divine Scripture.
FOR two reasons we have said that, although visions and loc ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XV
Wherein is explained how it is sometimes well for progressives who are beginning to enter upon this general knowledge of contemplation to make use of natural reasoning and the work of the natural faculties.
WITH regard to that which has been ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVI
Which treats of the imaginary apprehensions that are supernaturally represented in the fancy. Describing how they cannot serve the soul as a proximate means to union with God.
NOW that we have treated of the apprehensions which the soul can ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVII
Wherein is described the purpose and manner of God in His communication of spiritual blessings to the soul by means of the senses. Herein is answered the question which has been referred to.
THERE is much to be said concerning the purpose ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XVIII
Which treats of the harm that certain spiritual masters may do to souls when they direct them not by a good method with respect to the visions aforementioned. Describes also how these visions may cause deception even though they be of God. ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XX
Wherein is proved by passages from Scripture how the sayings and words of God, though always true, do not always rest upon stable causes.
WE have now to prove the second reason why visions and words which come from God, although in themselve ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXI
Wherein is explained how at times, although God answers the prayers that are addressed to Him, He is not pleased that we should use such methods. It is also shown how, although He condescend to us and answer us, He is oftentimes wroth.
CERT ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXII
Wherein is solved a difficulty -- namely, why it is not lawful, under the law of grace, to ask anything of God by supernatural means, as it was under the old law. This solution is proved by a passage from Saint Paul.
DIFFICULTIES keep comi ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIII
Which begins to treat of the apprehensions of the understanding that come in a purely spiritual way, and describes their nature.
ALTHOUGH the instruction that we have given with respect to the apprehensions of the understanding which come ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXIV
Which treats of two kinds of spiritual vision that come supernaturally.
SPEAKING now strictly of those visions which are spiritual, and are received without the intervention of any bodily sense, I say that there are two kinds of vision tha ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXIX
Which treats of the first kind of words that the recollected spirit sometimes forms within itself. Describes the cause of these and the profit and the harm which there may be in them.
These successive words always come when the spirit is r ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXV
Which treats of revelations, describing their nature and making a distinction between them.
ACCORDING to the order which we are here following, we have next to treat of the second kind of spiritual apprehension, which we have described abov ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVI
Which treats of the intuition of naked truths in the understanding, explaining how they are of two kinds and how the soul is to conduct itself with respect to them.
IN order to speak properly of this intuition of naked truths which is conv ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVII
Which treats of the second kind of revelation, namely, the disclosure of hidden secrets. Describes the way in which these may assist the soul toward union with God, and the way in which they may be a hindrance; and how the devil may deceiv ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXVIII
Which treats of interior locutions that may come to the spirit supernaturally. Says of what kinds they are.
THE discreet reader has ever need to bear in mind the intent and end which I have in this book, which is the direction of the sou ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXX
Which treats of the interior words that come to the spirit formally by supernatural means. Warns the reader of the harm which they may do and of the caution that is necessary in order that the soul may not be deceived by them.
THE interior ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXXI
CHAPTER XXXI
Which treats of the substantial words that come interiorly to the spirit. Describes the difference between them and formal words, and the profit which they bring and the resignation and respect which the soul must observe with regard to the ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK II - CHAPTER XXXII
CHAPTER XXXII
Which treats of the apprehensions received by the understanding from interior feelings which come supernaturally to the soul. Describes their cause, and the manner wherein the soul must conduct itself so that they may not obstruct its road ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK III - CHAPTER I
CHAPTER I
THE first faculty of the soul, which is the understanding, has now been instructed, through all its apprehensions, in the first theological virtue, which is faith, to the end that, according to this faculty, the soul may be united with God by ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK III - CHAPTER II
CHAPTER II
Which treats of the natural apprehensions of the memory and describes how the soul must be voided of them in order to be able to attain to union with God according to this faculty.
IT is necessary that, in each of these books, the reader sho ... read more
Ascent of Mount Carmel: BOOK III - CHAPTER III
CHAPTER III
Wherein are described three kinds of evil which come to the soul when it enters not into darkness with respect to knowledge and reflections in the memory. Herein is described the first.
TO three kinds of evil and inconvenience the spiritual ... read more
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