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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What do beginners have to go through to increase their strength and lose their imperfections, according to Book I, Chapter 1?

2. Why is the soul uncertain of finding its way out in the dark night, according to Book II, Chapter VII?

3. In Dark Night of the Soul, with what do slothful Christians have trouble aligning themselves?

4. What is disturbed by divine purgation, according to Book II, Chapter VIII?

5. The soul starts to develop a habit of what during the dark night, as stated in Book I, Chapter XIII?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the symptoms of the sin of pride, according to St. John?

2. Why must the soul face the darkness even though there is only misery there, as described in Book II, Chapter IX?

3. How does the author compare divine light to sunlight?

4. In Book I, Chapter XI, what is the Christian's new desire upon being ignited with the spirit of love?

5. What does St. John say must change in a person in order for the divine and the human to exist within the same person?

6. How does God determine how severe a person's trial will be through the dark night?

7. How does St. John say a person changes when his spirit becomes united with God and how does his understanding of love change?

8. What happens during the first night of the dark night, as discussed in Book II, Chapter III?

9. Describe how the devil uses spiritual activity to place an impure thought in a believer's head, as described in Dark Night of the Soul.

10. In Dark Night of the Soul, what is spiritual sloth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The seven deadly sins recognized by the Catholic Church are said to be an evil influence in a beginning Christian's life. St. John wrote how a new believer was strongly influenced by these sins in Dark Night of the Soul. Write an essay answering the following with support:

1) What are the seven deadly sins that plague a beginning Christian's life as described by St. John?

2) How do these sins influence the way a person acts in relationship to one's faith in Christianity?

3) How are these sins overcome in a person's life?

Essay Topic 2

Angels are mentioned throughout the text of Dark Night of the Soul and have specific qualities described by St. John. Please respond to the following with examples from the text that support your answer:

1) How are angels portrayed in the text with similar qualities as humans?

2) How does an angel become closer to God in spirituality?

3) What do both angels and humans experience which provides them with a commonality?

Essay Topic 3

There are seven points that the author describes about the understanding of divine fire. This fire is special and consumes and purifies the soul at the same time. Use supporting examples to respond to the following:

1) List at least four understandings of divine fire that St. John describes in Dark Night of the Soul.

2) How is divine fire of the soul similar to a log burning in a real fire?

3) How does the comparison of divine fire to a real fire illustrate the concept of a soul burning in purgatory?

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