Dark Night of the Soul

E675889

Dark Night of the Soul is a seminal 16th-century mystical poem and commentary exploring the soul’s purifying journey through spiritual desolation toward union with God.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
dark night of the soul 1

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian mystical work
mystical poem
spiritual treatise
aimsAt perfect love of God
transforming union
associatedWith Discalced Carmelites NERFINISHED
author John of the Cross NERFINISHED
countryOfOrigin Spain
dateWritten 16th century
describes experience of abandonment by God
loss of previous spiritual consolations
focusesOn night of the senses
night of the spirit
genre Christian spirituality
ascetical theology
mysticism
hasInterpretation metaphor for existential crisis
metaphor for psychological crisis
influenced Catholic spiritual direction
Christian mystical theology
contemplative spirituality
keyConcept dark night as a stage of spiritual growth
divine hiddenness
passive purgation by God
purification through suffering
language Spanish
literaryForm poem
prose commentary
movement Counter-Reformation Catholicism NERFINISHED
originalTitle Noche oscura del alma NERFINISHED
period Spanish Golden Age NERFINISHED
relatedWork Living Flame of Love NERFINISHED
Spiritual Canticle NERFINISHED
The Ascent of Mount Carmel NERFINISHED
religiousTradition Christianity
Roman Catholicism
structure poem followed by prose commentary
theme contemplative prayer
detachment from worldly attachments
passive purification of the soul
spiritual desolation
spiritual purification
union with God
theologicalPerspective Carmelite spirituality
usedIn contemplative retreats
monastic formation
spiritual direction

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Catholic mysticism hasConcept Dark Night of the Soul
this entity surface form: dark night of the soul
San Juan de la Cruz notableWork Dark Night of the Soul