Two Stages of Spiritual Struggle — Dark Night of the Soul

Before treating the dark night of the spirit, one thing has to be noted, so it is clear when this night begins and when that of sense ends. In a certain way they are both one night divided into two parts. The first part, that of sense, is common and comes to many. The second part, that of spirit, comes to the very few. Most people who know dryness have not yet met this second night.

The night and purgation of sense is bitter and terrible to sense. It hurts the part that wanted sweetness, images, and consolation. That pain is real. It is still the lesser night. Sense being stripped is not yet spirit being stripped.

The second part, that of the spirit, bears no comparison with the first. It is horrible and awful to the spirit. Saint John is not trying to frighten for sport. He is naming a threshold. The night you have already suffered in the senses is not the measure of what spirit's night will feel like. Few enter it. Those who do should not expect a longer version of the first. Sense's night is common. Spirit's night is rare, and it is worse. Do not measure the second night by the first.