Dark Night of the Soul: A Masterpiece in the Literature of Mysticism by St. John of the Cross (Paperback). 9780385029308
Saint John of the Cross is one of the more well-regarded Spanish mystics of the 16th Century, and this is considered his most inspiring work. It delineates, in energetic prose, the pathway through the deadly sins of mortality and on up through the mountain towards “perfect, eternal love,” the sole pathway by which one may know God. The “dark night” of the title, it should be noted, is not some period of suffering and pain, but the lovely stillness one achieves when their house is fully in order and they step forward into illumination. For Christians suffering from a crisis of faith, this new, acclaimed translation by E. Allison Peers will perhaps be something of a life preserver in a sea of unrest. Soul searchers of any denomination should also find this a rewarding read, as this is not dogmatic sermonizing, but a practical guide to realizing heaven in one’s current lifetime. Peers peppers the volume with copious footnotes, clarifying the sometimes difficult passages.