In the perfection series using the Doctors of the Church, one has a hard time choosing something from St. Gregory, one of the few popes to be called "great".
I have chosen a selection from his famous life of St. Benedict (Life of Our Most Holy Father St. Benedict) because it perfectly describes the purgation of the senses in the Dark Night.
More later...
CHAPTER II.
How he overcame a temptation of the flesh.
The holy man being on a certain
day alone, the tempter was at hand; for a little black bird, commonly called
an ousel, began to fly about his face, and that so near as the holy man, if he
would. might have taken it with his hand; but no sooner had he made the sign
of the cross than the bird vanished. When presently so great a carnal
temptation assailed him, that before the holy man had never felt the like.
For the remembrance of a woman which some time he had seen, was so lively
represented to his fancy by the wicked spirit, and so vehemently did her image
inflame his breast with lustful desires, that almost overcome by pleasure, he
was determining to leave the wilderness. But suddenly assisted with divine
grace he came to himself, and, seeing near him a thicket full of nettles and
briars, he threw off his garments and cast himself naked into the midst of
those sharp thorns and nettles, where he rolled himself so long, that, when he
rose up, all his body was pitifully rent; thus by the wounds of his flesh he
cured those of his soul, by turning pleasure into pain; and by the vehemence
of outward torments he extinguished the unlawful flame which burnt within
overcoming sin by changing the fire. After which time, as he himself related
to his disciples, he was so free from the like temptation, that he never felt
any such motion.
Many after this began to forsake the world and to hasten
to put themselves under his government. Being now altogether free from vice,
he worthily deserved to be made a master of virtue. As it is commanded by
Moses that the Levites should serve from five and twenty years and upward, and
after fifty years they should be appointed to keep the holy vessels.
