Sermons & Devotionals by St. John of the Cross

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 above as revelations, and which properly belongs to ... Read More

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 conveyed to the understanding, the writer would need... Read More

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 deceive the soul greatly in this matter. WE were sayi... Read More

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 soul, through all its apprehensions, natural and su... Read More

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 words belonging to the second type are formal wo... Read More

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 them.[469] THE third kind of interior words, we sa... Read More

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 to union with God. IT is now time to treat of ... Read More

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 means of the purity of faith. It now remains to... Read More

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 should bear in mind the purpose of which we are spe... Read More

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 man is subject when he persists in desiring to ... Read More

CHAPTER IV Which treats of the second kind of evil that may come to the soul from the devil by way of the natural apprehensions of the memory. THE second positive evil that may come to the soul by means of the knowledge of the memory proceeds from the devil, who by this means obtains great influence... Read More

CHAPTER IX Of the second kind of evil, which is the peril of falling into self-esteem and vain presumption. THE supernatural apprehensions of the memory already described are also a frequent occasion to spiritual persons of falling into some kind of presumption or vanity, if they give heed to them a... Read More

CHAPTER V Of the third evil which comes to the soul by way of the distinct natural knowledge or the memory. THE third evil which comes to the soul through the natural apprehensions of the memory is privative; for these apprehensions can hinder moral good and deprive us of spiritual good. And, in ord... Read More

CHAPTER VI Of the benefits which come to the soul from forgetfulness and emptiness of all thoughts and knowledge which it may have in a natural way with respect to the memory. FROM the evils which, as we have said, come to the soul through the apprehensions of the memory, we can likewise infer the b... Read More

CHAPTER VII Which treats or the second kind or apprehension of the memory -- namely, imaginary apprehensions -- and of supernatural knowledge. ALTHOUGH in writing of natural apprehensions of the first kind we also gave instruction concerning the imaginary, which are likewise natural, it was well to ... Read More

CHAPTER VIII Of the evils which may be caused in the soul by the knowledge of supernatural things, if it reflect upon them. Says how many these evils are. THE spiritual man incurs the risk of five kinds of evil if he pays heed to, and reflects upon, these forms and ideas which are impressed upon him... Read More

CHAPTER X Of the third evil that may come to the soul from the devil, through the imaginary apprehensions of the memory. FROM all that has been said above it may be clearly understood and inferred how great is the evil that may come to the soul from the devil by way of these supernatural apprehensio... Read More

CHAPTER XI Of the fourth evil that comes to the soul from the distinct supernatural apprehensions of the memory, which is the hindrance that it interposes to union. CONCERNING this fourth evil there is not much to be said, since it has already been treated again and again in this third book, wherein... Read More

CHAPTER XIII Of the benefits which the soul receives through banishing from itself the apprehensions of the imagination. This chapter answers a certain objection and explains a difference which exists between apprehensions that are imaginary, natural and supernatural. THE benefits that come from voi... Read More

CHAPTER XIV Which treats of spiritual knowledge in so far as it may concern the memory. WE classed spiritual forms of knowledge as the third division of the apprehensions of the memory, not because they belong to the bodily sense of the fancy, as do the others, for they have no bodily form and image... Read More