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ASCENT OF MOUNT CARMEL

Introduction

Argument

Prologue

BOOK I

 Chapter I.--Sets down the first stanza. Describes two different nights through which spiritual persons pass, according to the two parts of man, the lower and the higher. Expounds the stanza which follows

Chapter II.--Explains the nature of this dark night through which the soul says that it has passed on the road to union

Chapter III.--Speaks of the first cause of this night, which is that of the privation of the desire in all things, and gives the reason for which it is called night

Chapter IV.--Wherein is declared how necessary it is for the soul truly to pass through this dark night of sense, which is mortification of desire, in order that it may journey to union with God

Chapter V.--Wherein the aforementioned subject is treated and continued, and it is shown by passages and figures from Holy Scripture how necessary it is for the soul to journey to God through this dark night of the mortification of desire in all things

Chapter VI.--Wherein are treated two serious evils caused in the soul by the desires, the one evil being privative and the other positive

Chapter VII.--Wherein is shown how the desires torment the soul. This is proved likewise by comparisons and quotations

Chapter VIII.--Wherein is shown how the desires darken and blind the soul

Chapter IX.--Wherein is described how the desires defile the soul. This is proved by comparisons and quotations from Holy Scripture

Chapter X.--Wherein is described how the desires weaken the soul in virtue and make it lukewarm

Chapter XI.--Wherein it is proved necessary that the soul that would attain to Divine union should be free from desires, however slight they be

Chapter XII.--Which treats of the answer to another question, explaining what the desires are that suffice to cause the evils aforementioned in the soul

Chapter XIII.--Wherein is described the manner and way which the soul must follow in order to enter this night of sense

Chapter XIV.--Wherein is expounded the second line of the stanza

Chapter XV.--Wherein are expounded the remaining lines of the aforementioned stanza

BOOK II

Chapter I

Chapter II.--Which begins to treat of the second part of cause of this night, which is faith. Proves by two arguments how it is darker than the first and then the third

Chapter III.--How faith is dark night to the soul. This is proved with arguments and quotations and figures from Scripture

Chapter IV.--Treats in general of how the soul likewise must be in darkness, in so far as this rests with itself, to the end that it may be effectively guided by faith to the highest contemplation

Chapter V.--Wherein is described what is meant by union of the soul with God. A comparison is given

Chapter VI.--Wherein is described how it is the three theological virtues that perfect the three faculties of the soul, and how the said virtues produce emptiness and darkness within them

Chapter VII.--Wherein is described how strait is the way that leads to eternal life and how completely detached and disencumbered must be those that will walk in it. We begin to speak of the detachment of the understanding

Chapter VIII.--Which describes in a general way how no creature and no knowledge that can be comprehended by the understanding can serve as a proximate means of Divine union with God

Chapter IX.--How faith is the proximate and proportionate means of the understanding whereby the soul may attain to the Divine union of love. This is proved by passages and figures from Divine Scripture

Chapter X.--Wherein distinction is made between all apprehensions and types of knowledge which can be comprehended by the understanding

Chapter XI.--Of the hindrance and harm that may be caused by apprehensions of the understanding which proceed from that which is supernaturally represented to the outward bodily senses; and how the soul is to conduct itself therein

Chapter XII.--Which treats of natural imaginary apprehensions. Describes their nature