– Edward Yee
On this tri-centennial anniversary of St. John of the Cross’s canonization, I have explored the “nights” in terms of detachment and desire in my last article. This week, we explore how the Doctor of the Church explains why this journey of detachment is “dark.” How does St. John explain “darkness”? He explains that “darkness” conveys the hiddenness of God, who is unseen and incomprehensible due to human limitations. (Ascent, Book Two, chap. 9) The saint is not contradicting the Scripture, “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 Jn 1:5) Yet the superabundance of brightness from God makes all other lights look dark in comparison. Thus, the closer we are towards God, the deeper things are in darkness. (Dark Night, Prologue)
St. John’s Doctrine in a Nutshell: Transformation
In his letter (“Letter 13”) to his fellow friar, dated 14 April 1589, the saint elaborated this spiritual journey of darkness in the most concise manner: “…In order to be united with him [God], the will must consequently be emptied of and detached from all disordered appetite and satisfaction…, whether earthly or heavenly, temporal or spiritual…”, which firstly referred to “nights” as detachments from our desires, to the extent that we do not even long for God’s spiritual comforts or spiritual satisfaction through prayers and our work for God. Then he continued, “…it is through love and not through any gratification of the appetite….Since God is incomprehensible and inaccessible, the will…must not set itself on what it can touch and apprehend with the appetite, but on what is incomprehensible and inaccessible to the appetite. Loving in this way, a soul loves truly and certainly according to the demands of faith; also in emptiness and darkness concerning its feeling, going beyond all the feelings it may experience in understanding its concepts. Thus, it believes and loves above everything it can understand.” St. John teaches that we love God purely, rather than for the “feeling” and “benefits” of loving and obeying Him. It is the goal of a journey of transformation.
Faith Brings Love
At first, St. John’s doctrine may sound harsh. But this state is the endpoint of a progressive transformation. If we imagine two lovers entering into a marriage, but one of them loves the other half for beauty, riches, or other qualities rather than the person herself or himself, their relationship will likely face challenges because these qualities will fade over time. The same applies to our relationship with God. The difference is: no matter how imperfect we are, God always loves us perfectly. (CCC, 342) It is the virtue of faith alone that can transform us to such a deep love for God. Faith is different from mere believing but also living it out in Love: “Living faith works through charity.” (CCC, 1814) It is about trusting God firmly, even though we do not understand God’s intention and plan for our lives. It is about relying solely on God that, while we persevere through our daily difficulties, God also sends His angels to assist us. Our Love for God is, therefore, more than emotion and feeling, but concrete actions in loving our neighbours. (CCC, 1827-1828) “Dark nights” always result in our transformation in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
“It is in Darknesses that God Protects Us”
St. John asks us to practice our love for God progressively: first, through detachment from our desires (“nights”), so that we gradually desire God alone; second, to be steadfast in faith even when we do not understand God’s plan (“in darkness”) for us. In another letter to a discalced Carmelite nun suffering from scruples, the saint wrote: “When something distasteful or unpleasant comes your way, remember Christ crucified and be silent. Live in faith and hope, even though you are in darkness, because it is in darknesses that God protects the soul. Cast your care on God, for he watches over you and will not forget you. Do not think that he leaves you alone; that would be an affront to him.” (Letter 20, dated 1590) Indeed, God never forgets us. In suffering, it is easy to think God has left us. Yet, St. John reminds us to keep our gaze on the crucified Christ on the Cross, “and be silent” so that we remain focused on God’s Love and nothing else.
Silence Brings Our Knowledge of God
Silence is an important emphasis in Carmelite and St. John’s spirituality. To list just a few examples from the saint’s The Sayings of Light and Love: “Communes inwardly with God, alone and in solitude…for the knowledge of God is received in divine silence.” (#28) “This Word he speaks always in eternal silence, and in silence must it be heard by the soul.” (#100) “Wisdom enters through love, silence, and mortification. It is great wisdom to know how to be silent and to look at neither the remarks, nor the deeds, nor the lives of others.” (#109) Only in silence can one meet God. (See CCC, 2709 & 2717)
Reflections: Now, let’s spend some moments of silence for reflection. In your past difficulties, from which you felt abandoned by God, can you now recognise God’s assistance, either through someone/something or some events which you considered a “coincidence” back then? In your busy life, have you tried some time for the inner “silence”? How are you transformed in your “dark night” experience?
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