Episode 212: The Ascent of Mount Carmel: Book III, The Active Night, Chapter XXIII, Nature and Varietes of Sensible Goods

From the book The Ascent of Mount Carmel by St. John of the Cross which can be found in text or audio.

Book III, The Active Night, Chapter XXIII, Nature and Varietes of Sensible Goods

In The Ascent of Mount Carmel, Book III, Chapter XXIII, St. John of the Cross discusses "sensible goods," which are material or sensory pleasures and possessions that can distract the soul from its spiritual journey toward God. He classifies these goods into different types, including those related to physical comfort, wealth, beauty, and other forms of sensory satisfaction. St. John warns that attachment to such goods can impede spiritual progress, as the soul may become ensnared by desires and distractions that lead it away from divine union. He encourages a detachment from these earthly pleasures, stressing that true fulfillment and freedom are found only by focusing on God and transcending worldly attachments. This process of detachment, which he calls the "active night," is essential for advancing in spiritual maturity.

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