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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 is another name for avarice?

2. The example the author uses about purification illustrates an understanding of what concept?

3. According to St. John, what kind of day is it when a man searches for God in a divine way instead of a human way?

4. The author says the severity of the trials of a person going through the dark night depends on what?

5. In Book I, Chapter VI, what sin are new believers said to be especially prone to because of its sweetness?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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.

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

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

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

5. Why does the author quote the sufferings of Job and Jeremias in Book II, Chapter VII?

6. In Book I, Chapter III, what are the symptoms of the sin of avarice?

7. In Book I, Chapter XII, what is the main benefit for the soul as it travels through the night of darkness?

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

9. How does a soul feel while experiencing the dark night and what happens during any period of rest in the dark night in Book II, Chapter VII?

10. In Book I, Chapter VI, why are new believers especially prone to the sin of gluttony?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is a separation between the will and the emotions within a person. St. John describes this separation as the reason why the soul can journey through the dark night. Respond with supporting examples:

1) How is the will free from emotions within a human?

2) Why does the soul recognize what it needs and the will of a person does not?

3) How is the separation of the will and the emotions required for a person to pass through the dark night?

Essay Topic 2

There are ten steps on the secret ladder of spirituality, as described by St. John in Dark Night of the Soul. The soul begins to climb this ladder after passing the dark night. Respond to the following questions with examples that support your answer:

1) From where does the imagery of the spiritual ladder come?

2) What are the ten steps on the ladder?

3) How does a soul reach the last step on the ladder? What does that say about the divine properties of the ladder?

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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