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dark night of the soul. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
dark night of the soul, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
dark night of the soul in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
Coined by John of the Cross.
Noun
dark night of the soul
- (Catholicism) a period of time in which a holy person (someone believed to be potentially on their way to sainthood) experiences a seeming withdrawal of God's previously-felt presence in their lives, and undergoes stark spiritual attacks. This period of time is seen (by Catholics) to be a period in which God is calling the holy person to rid themselves of any remaining vestiges of self-pride and vanity that they may have.
- Your dear friend ought to take heart. From what you have told me, it is quite likely that they are going through a dark night of the soul.
- Synonym: dark night
Translations
a period of time in which a holy person experiences a seeming withdrawal of God’s previously-felt presence in their lives, and undergoes stark spiritual attacks