Summary
When Your Body Betrays Your Spirit
Dark Night of the Soul by Saint John of the Cross
This chapter tackles an uncomfortable truth: your body doesn't always cooperate with your spiritual aspirations. He explains that beginners on the spiritual path often experience unwanted sexual thoughts or feelings during prayer, confession, or other religious practices. This isn't because they're doing something wrong or because they're spiritually deficient—it's simply how human nature works. The body has its own rhythms and responses that don't always align with our spiritual intentions. John warns that the devil exploits this natural disconnect to make people feel ashamed and want to give up their spiritual practices altogether. When someone experiences these intrusive thoughts during prayer, they often conclude they must be terrible people or that God is rejecting them. But John insists this is a misunderstanding. These physical responses are often completely beyond our conscious control—they're not sins, just the natural rebellion of our sensual nature. The key insight is learning to distinguish between what we can control (our choices and responses) and what we can't (automatic physical reactions). This chapter offers profound relief to anyone who has ever felt like a hypocrite for having unwanted thoughts during important moments. John's message is clear: your worth isn't determined by every fleeting thought or physical response, but by your deeper intentions and choices.
Coming Up in Chapter 5
Having addressed the uncomfortable reality of physical intrusions on spiritual life, John will next explore how beginners can move beyond these initial struggles and develop a more mature spiritual practice.
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 248 words)
Of other imperfections which these beginners are apt to have with respect to the third sin, which is luxury. Many of these beginners have many other imperfections than those which I am describing with respect to each of the seven vices, but these I set aside, in order to avoid prolixity, touching upon a few of the most important, which are, as it were, the origin and cause of the rest. And with respect to this sin of luxury (apart from what is related to spiritual matters), they have many imperfections, many of which come under the heading of spiritual impurity and are beyond enumeration. For it comes to pass that, in their very spiritual exercises, when they are powerless to prevent it, there arise and assert themselves in the sensual part impure acts and motions, sometimes even when they are at prayer or engaged in the Sacrament of Penance or in the Eucharist. These things arise not from the subject matter of devotion but from the stirrings of concupiscence. The devil, seeing they are unprepared, assails them with strong temptations of this kind, and he does this so that he may disturb and disquiet their spirits, and cause them to loathe the spiritual life. For when they find that these things happen to them during their spiritual exercises, they are made to believe that they must have committed grave sin, whereas it is as I say—a mere natural rebellion of sensuality which is often beyond their control.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Misplaced Shame - When Your Body Betrays Your Intentions
When automatic physical responses contradict conscious intentions, creating shame that sabotages progress toward goals.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to distinguish between automatic bodily reactions and conscious moral choices.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when your body does something that contradicts your intentions—getting hungry during serious conversations, feeling tired when you want to be present—and remind yourself that these responses don't define your character.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Luxury (Luxuria)
In medieval Christian thought, this meant sexual desire and physical pleasure, not expensive things. It was considered one of the seven deadly sins because it could distract from spiritual focus. John uses it to describe how our physical nature can interfere with spiritual practices.
Modern Usage:
We see this when we're trying to focus on something important but our body or emotions pull us in another direction - like getting hungry during a serious conversation or feeling attraction at inappropriate times.
Concupiscence
The automatic physical and emotional desires that arise without our conscious choice. John sees this as part of human nature - not evil, but something that can distract us from our goals. It's the gap between what our mind wants and what our body feels.
Modern Usage:
When you're on a diet but automatically crave junk food, or trying to stay calm but your heart races anyway - that's concupiscence in action.
Sensual part
John's term for our physical nature and bodily responses - everything from sexual feelings to hunger to tiredness. He distinguishes this from our spiritual or rational nature. The sensual part isn't bad, but it operates by different rules than our conscious mind.
Modern Usage:
We recognize this when we say 'my body is tired but my mind is wired' or when physical stress affects our emotional state even when logically we know everything is fine.
Spiritual exercises
Formal religious practices like prayer, confession, or attending Mass. John is addressing what happens when people experience unwanted thoughts or feelings during these sacred moments. These are times when people expect to feel pure and focused.
Modern Usage:
Any time we're trying to be serious or focused - during important meetings, family conversations, or personal reflection - but our minds wander or our bodies react unexpectedly.
Natural rebellion of sensuality
John's phrase for how our physical nature sometimes acts independently of our conscious will. It's 'rebellion' because it goes against what we're trying to do, but it's 'natural' because it's just how humans are built. No moral judgment involved.
Modern Usage:
Like when you're trying to look professional but your stomach growls loudly, or you're trying to be supportive but feel jealous anyway - your body and emotions don't always cooperate with your intentions.
Beginners
People new to serious spiritual practice who haven't yet learned to distinguish between different types of thoughts and feelings. John has compassion for their confusion about what's normal versus what's sinful. They take everything personally.
Modern Usage:
Anyone starting something new who doesn't yet know what's normal - new parents, new employees, or people in new relationships who worry about every small thing.
Characters in This Chapter
The devil
Spiritual antagonist
John presents the devil as an opportunist who exploits natural human responses to create shame and discouragement. Rather than causing the unwanted thoughts, the devil amplifies the person's reaction to them, making them feel guilty about normal human experiences.
Modern Equivalent:
The inner critic that takes normal struggles and turns them into evidence that you're failing or don't belong
These beginners
Struggling students
The main focus of John's teaching - people earnestly trying to grow spiritually but getting derailed by shame about normal human responses. They represent anyone learning something important but getting discouraged by their imperfections.
Modern Equivalent:
The person starting therapy, a new job, or any growth process who thinks every setback means they're doing it wrong
Key Quotes & Analysis
"These things arise not from the subject matter of devotion but from the stirrings of concupiscence."
Context: Explaining why people have unwanted thoughts during prayer or religious practices
This is John's key insight - the problem isn't with your spiritual practice or your character. It's just your human nature operating on a different channel. He's separating what you're trying to do from what your body automatically does.
In Today's Words:
These feelings aren't happening because you're doing something wrong - they're just your body being a body.
"They are made to believe that they must have committed grave sin, whereas it is as I say—a mere natural rebellion of sensuality which is often beyond their control."
Context: Describing how people misinterpret their natural physical responses as moral failures
John is directly challenging the shame spiral. He's saying that having unwanted thoughts or feelings doesn't make you a bad person - it makes you human. The real problem is the false belief that you should be able to control everything about yourself.
In Today's Words:
You think you've done something terrible, but really it's just your body doing what bodies do - and that's not something you can always control.
"The devil, seeing they are unprepared, assails them with strong temptations of this kind, and he does this so that he may disturb and disquiet their spirits, and cause them to loathe the spiritual life."
Context: Explaining how shame about natural responses can derail spiritual growth
John identifies the real danger - not the unwanted thoughts themselves, but the way shame about them can make people give up on growth entirely. The 'devil' here represents the voice that says 'see, you're hopeless, why even try?'
In Today's Words:
That voice in your head sees you struggling and tries to convince you that you should just quit because you're clearly not cut out for this.
Thematic Threads
Identity
In This Chapter
John shows how people mistake temporary physical responses for permanent character flaws
Development
Builds on earlier chapters about spiritual pride by addressing the opposite extreme—excessive self-condemnation
In Your Life:
You might judge your entire character based on one embarrassing moment or unwanted thought
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Growth requires accepting the gap between current reality and aspirational self
Development
Continues theme of growth being messier and more complex than beginners expect
In Your Life:
Your journey toward becoming better will include moments that make you feel like you're moving backward
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Shame about natural responses can destroy authentic connection with others and ourselves
Development
Expands on how internal struggles affect our ability to relate genuinely
In Your Life:
You might avoid meaningful relationships because you're afraid your 'real' thoughts will show
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Society teaches us to feel ashamed of normal human responses that don't match idealized behavior
Development
Introduced here as external pressure that amplifies internal shame
In Your Life:
You might exhaust yourself trying to appear perfectly composed in every situation
Class
In This Chapter
Working-class people often feel additional shame about bodily needs interrupting 'respectable' moments
Development
Introduced here as intersection of physical needs and social respectability
In Your Life:
You might feel embarrassed when basic human needs assert themselves during professional or formal situations
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does John say happens when our bodies react in ways that contradict our conscious intentions during important moments?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does John argue that these physical responses aren't actually sins or character flaws?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see this pattern in modern life - times when people judge themselves harshly for automatic physical responses they can't control?
application • medium - 4
How would you help someone who's caught in a shame spiral because their body responded differently than their intentions during an important moment?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about the difference between who we are and what our bodies automatically do?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Body-Mind Disconnects
Think of three recent situations where your body responded in a way that contradicted your conscious intentions - maybe you got hungry during a serious conversation, felt sleepy during something important, or had wandering thoughts when you wanted to focus. For each situation, identify what you could control versus what was automatic, and how the disconnect made you feel about yourself.
Consider:
- •Focus on situations where the physical response was completely involuntary
- •Notice whether you interpreted the disconnect as evidence of character flaws
- •Consider how shame about the response might have been more damaging than the response itself
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you felt like a hypocrite because your body or automatic responses contradicted your deeper values. How might you handle that situation differently now, knowing that physical responses don't define your character?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 5: When Spiritual Progress Stalls
In the next chapter, you'll discover spiritual dryness triggers anger and frustration, and learn impatience sabotages genuine growth. These insights reveal timeless patterns that resonate in our own lives and relationships.