The Thomistic Institute Faith, Mysticism, and the 'Dark Night Of The Soul' | Father Dominic Legge
Dec 18, 2023
Father Dominic Legge, Director of the Thomistic Institute, discusses faith, mysticism, and the 'Dark Night Of The Soul'. They explore the role of theology in understanding extraordinary phenomena, including mystical experiences during 16th-century Catholicism in Spain. They also discuss different ways to approach knowing God and the structure of the spiritual life. Other topics include embracing detachment, ascending to God through prayer, and managing passions and distractions in the spiritual life.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Knowing God Feels Both Light And Dark
- God is ultimately unknowable in this life, so encounters with God feel both luminous and dark because the divine surpasses our cognitive capacity.
- Aquinas frames this as a light too bright for our minds and explains the via negation: we know God by stripping away creaturely concepts.
The Via Negationis Deepens Divine Knowledge
- Aquinas gives three ways to know God: causality, eminence, and the negative way (via negation) which advances knowledge by removing creaturely concepts.
- Via negation deepens knowledge by discerning what God is not, like saying God is good but not like created goodness.
Actively Live The Theological Virtues
- Activate sanctifying grace by practicing the theological virtues: make frequent acts of faith, hope, and love so they shape your intellect and will.
- Aquinas teaches sanctifying grace is habitual and infused at baptism, elevating your nature to share in the divine life.