The last stage of the Illuminative State is when people start working for God full-blast, without egotism. This is the time when such saints as Thomas Aquinas wrote the Summa, Benedict set up his Rule, Ignatius began his order and so on. At that last state, one is no longer actively praying, but praying in passive contemplation. The Unitive State is when one actually becomes a saint, and one can see in lives, such as John Paul II, public purgation, which resulted in Illumination and finally, Union.
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
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| ◊ full | ◊ extraordinary, e.g., with the vision of the Blessed Trinity |
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| ◊ weak |
| ◊ ordinary |
| • eminent contemplative form |
| • apostolic form |
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| ◊ initial | ◊ not very continual union, often interrupted |
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Illuminative life of proficients
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| ◊ full infused contemplation |
| ◊ extraordinary or accompanied by visions, revelations |
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| ◊ ordinary |
•clearly contemplative form
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• active form, or form ordained to action, e.g., gift of wisdom under practical form
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| ◊ weak | ◊ transitory acts of infused contemplation (d. The Dark Night, Bk. I, chap. 9) |
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| ◊ initial | ◊ passive purification of the senses more or less well borne (initial infused contemplation) |
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| Purgative life of beginners |
| ◊ full or generous | ◊ fervent souls pious and devout souls |
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| ◊ weak | ◊ tepid or retarded souls, not without relapses |
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| ◊ initial | ◊ first conversion or justification |
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