Following previous tradition, such as the views of Tauler summarized by his students, Saint John of the Cross gives three signs (see this previous post) that a soul is starting out on the way of contemplation. Normally, any soul in such a situation can be shocked, especially if she is generous and gets thrown into this situation very quickly, and can begin to worry. Why are things dry? Why have I lost consolations? What is happening? The soul enters the first “dark night” of purification. What are the signs of this first “dark night” in which contemplation begins to invade one’s spiritual life, under direct inspiration from the Holy Spirit?

Father Garrigou-Lagrange OP, writing for the benefit of spiritual directors, summarizes the signs as follows:

The three signs are the following. In the first place, the soul is experiencing sensible aridity and finds no consolation either in divine things or in any thing created. Taken by itself, this sign would be insufficient, since it might proceed from a fit of depression. But when considered in conjunction with the other signs, it indicates to some extent the influence of the Gift of Knowledge, which enables the soul to recognize the vanity of all created things.

The second sign which marks the entrance of the soul into this illuminative way [in which contemplation begins and persists sporadically, rather than continuously, which is characteristic of the “unitive way” instead] is that in spite of this aridity, the soul never forgets God; it retains a keen desire for perfection and fears that it is falling back in the service of God. Here is evident proof that the present state of the soul is not caused by depression or tepidity, and it reveals the influence of the Gifts of Fear and Piety.

The third sign of the soul’s readiness for the beginning of infused contemplation is that it can no longer practise discursive meditation but finds pleasure in a simple, loving attention directed toward God. This is a sign that God is beginning to enlighten the soul with a special inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This simple regard, which is centred on God, proceeds from the virtue of faith illumined by the Gifts of Knowledge and Understanding and – at least in a hidden way – Wisdom.

Suffering through this night when sensible consolations go dark brings the sensitive, bodily side of us more in live with God’s will and enables us to enjoy him more simply – in contemplation.