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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. St. John writes that a person experiencing the dark night might feel as if who has abandoned him?

2. In Book I, Chapter VIII, what does the second night purify?

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

4. What does God want to do with those who go through the most intense darkness of the dark night?

5. A peaceful time with God will spark the spirit of what, according to the author?

Short Essay Questions

1. As described in Book II, Chapter, I, can a person who has passed through the night of darkness still be afflicted with other periods of darkness? Why?

2. In Book II, Chapter V, what reasons are given for the dark night to be named "dark" and not "light"?

3. What are the three types of pain that result from human and divine meeting in one, as discussed in Book II, Chapter VI?

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

5. What is the difference between a symptom of the dark night from sin and actually going through the dark night, according to St. John?

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

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

8. In Book II, Chapter VIII, why is the inability to pray or the feeling that prayers are not reaching God in the dark night not a problem?

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The length of the dark night of spirituality and how much pain a soul has to endure is different for every person. Using supporting examples, please respond with an essay to the following:

1) Why does the duration of the dark night and the amount of pain experienced by a soul vary from person to person?

2) Who has the final say in the duration and intensity of the dark night?

3) What is the fate of a soul who is chosen to have extremely intense darkness?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

The knowledge and the experience of the dark night, as well as the ladder of spirituality, are considered secret. These occurrences are even defined as indescribable. With supporting examples, answer the following:

1) Why are the experiences of the dark night and the ladder of spirituality labeled as secret?

2) How does a person learn of the secret things from God? How does God leave no trail of his teachings?

3) Why are there no words to describe the learning the soul gains after passing through the dark night?

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