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Thursday 6 June 2013

For those who love charts...on the way to perfection, start bottom up

SYNTHESIS OF THE TREATISE ON THE THREE AGES OF THE INTERIOR LIFE BY GARRIGOU-LAGRANGE
(To be read from the bottom up)

Unitive life of the perfect
◊ full◊ extraordinary, e.g., with the vision of the Blessed Trinity
◊ weak
◊  ordinary
• eminent contemplative form
• apostolic form
◊ initial◊ not very continual union, often interrupted
Illuminative life of proficients
◊ full infused contemplation
◊ extraordinary or accompanied by visions, revelations
◊ ordinary
clearly contemplative form
 active form, or form ordained to action, e.g., gift of wisdom under practical form
◊ weak◊ transitory acts of infused contemplation (d. The Dark Night, Bk. I, chap. 9)
◊ initial◊ passive purification of the senses more or less well borne (initial infused contemplation)
Purgative life of beginners
◊ full or generous◊ fervent souls pious and devout souls
◊ weak◊ tepid or retarded souls, not without relapses
◊ initial◊ first conversion or justification