The World as an Obstacle to the Path of Perfection

Source: Saint John of the Cross, Spiritual Canticles

The soul that begins to enter upon the path of perfection sees, in fact, the world presenting itself to its imagination as wild beasts would, threatening it and baring their teeth; and this happens especially in three ways.

(1) The first is that it sees itself threatened with the loss of the world’s favors, its friends, its protectors, its reputation, and even its fortune.

(2) The second, which appears no less formidable than the first, is the prospect of never again having any pleasure or satisfaction in this world, and of being deprived of all the comforts it offers.

(3) The third is more terrifying still: it is the unchaining of tongues that will tear her apart; she will find herself the target of all sarcasm and reproach; there will remain for her nothing but contempt.

Certain souls are so frightened when these difficulties rise up before them that it becomes very hard for them, not only to persevere in the struggle against these wild beasts, but even to take the first step on the path of God.