Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: Catholicism, Christianity
Examples
- 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.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: dark night
Antonyms: none provided
Coined by John of the Cross.
Across languages
Translations
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
-
Hungarian:
a lélek sötét éjszakája
— 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
-
Spanish:
noche oscura del alma
— 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
-
Swedish:
själens dunkla natt
— 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
