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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 does St. John say happens after a person is involved in spiritual activities for wrath to enter into a beginner's life?

2. Beside the feelings of poverty, what is necessary to completely purge the spirit?

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

4. The dark night refers to the darkness of what?

5. On what does the author expound, in Book I, Chapter XI?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. In Book II, Chapter X, how does the divine fire of God teach about the state of souls in purgatory?

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

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

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

6. What are some of the benefits described in Book I, Chapter XIII of a soul that has been purified by the dark night?

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

8. 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.

9. What is the purpose of the Dark Night of the Soul as described in the prologue?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The light of divine illumination comes only after a soul has experienced the dark night. St. John explains divine light by referencing the rays of sunlight. Respond to the following with supporting examples:

1) What is divine light?

2) Explain how divine light acts similarly to sunlight.

3) Why does divine light only illuminate within a soul that has passed through the dark night?

Essay Topic 2

There are signs that a person's soul is starting to enter the dark night; however these signs are sometimes confused with a soul that is suffering from a sinful existence. Answer the following questions with supporting examples:

1) What are the symptoms a person's soul experiences when beginning to enter into the dark night?

2) What are some of the signs a person is suffering from a sinful existence and not really entering into the dark night?

3) How many people truly enter the dark night? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The second night of darkness inflicts even greater pain upon the soul than the first night. Answer the following questions with supporting examples:

1) Why is the second night of darkness even more painful than the first?

2) What happens to the soul after periods of rest during this night? Why?

3) What examples from the Bible does St. John use to help illustrate the pain of the second night of darkness?

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