9. Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your so… - John of the Cross

But it may be asked: Why does the soul call the divine light, which enlightens the soul and purges it of its ignorances, the dark night? I reply, that the divine wisdom is, for two reasons, not night and darkness only, but pain and torment also to the soul. The first is, the divine wisdom is so high that it transcends the capacity of the soul, and therefore is, in that respect, darkness. The second reason is based on the meanness and impurity of the soul, and in that respect the divine wisdom is painful to it, afflictive and dark also.

Blessed are they who, setting aside their own pleasure and inclination, consider things according to reason and justice before doing them.

union with God — namely, faith.