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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 is the purpose of the garment of faith?

2. What happened to Jeremias and Moses after being infused with the wisdom of God?

3. St. John's use of writing about a spiritual ladder as a path to unification with God is an example of what?

4. What is the main topic of discussion in Book II, Chapter XV?

5. The author states that people can only move on the ladder when they have a feeling of what for themselves?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Book II, Chapter XII, how does the desire of God influence understanding and love on a believer passing through the dark night?

2. What does St. John say happens on the fourth step of love of the secret ladder? Why does the soul not want favor from God?

3. From where does St. John say the image of the spiritual ladder is derived?

4. How is this unification achieved with God, according to Book II, Chapter XXIV?

5. How does St. John conclude his book in the final chapter?

6. Why does the author say that people who have never passed through the dark night understand spiritual freedom?

7. How does St. John describe the trail that God walks as He leads the soul on its journey through the darkness?

8. How does a purifying fire of love affect the souls of humans and angels in relation to a closeness with God as described by the author?

9. Why must the soul become numb to natural desires to receive God's strength and a union with God, according to Book II, Chapter XVI?

10. Why is the experience of the dark night and the spiritual ladder called "secret," as explained by the author?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The pain that occurs during the dark night is very intense and the author describes three types of pain that happens to the soul during this time. With examples from the text, please respond with examples to the following:

1) What are the three types of pain a soul experiences while going through the dark night of spirituality?

2) What causes this pain to occur?

3) Why is this pain required for the soul in order to emerge from the dark night?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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