Three Ways (Purgation, Illumination, Union)
The soul's ascent in three stages: cleansed of sin, lit in virtue, joined to God
The Three Ways describe the classic stages of the spiritual life: purgation, the cleansing from sin; illumination, growth in virtue and knowledge of God; and union, the soul's deep communion with God. The framework draws on Pseudo-Dionysius and was developed in later Western mystical theology. It offers a map of the journey toward God, marking progress not as a single moment but as a lifelong ascent.
How it traveled
- The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-XMarseille · c. 435 CEexplains
- The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal FaultsMarseille · c. 435 CEexplains
Key passages(20)
Each passage is tagged by what it does with the idea: explains it, applies it in practice, redefines it with a new meaning, or challenges it. Relevance shows how directly the passage is about this idea.
The Conferences of John Cassian. Part II. Containing Conferences XI-XVII · John Cassian
The words of Abbot Nesteros on the knowledge of the religious. The order of our promise and course demands that there should follow the instruction of Abbot Nesteros,πρακτική, i.e., practical, which
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On Christian Doctrine · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 7.—Steps to Wisdom: First, Fear; Second, Piety; Third, Knowledge; Fourth, Resolution; Fifth, Counsel; Sixth, Purification of Heart; Seventh, Stop or Termination, Wisdom. 9. First of all, then
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The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X · John Cassian
And therefore, when we have laid this down with regard to the character of prayer, although not so fully as the importance of the subject requires, but as fully as the exigencies of time permit, and a
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Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul · Thomas à Kempis
SEEK a suitable time for leisure and meditate often on the favors of God. Leave curiosities alone. Read such matters as bring sorrow to the heart rather than occupation to the mind. If you withdraw yo
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A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles · John Chrysostom
Here indeed my discourse is for both men and women. Bend thy knees, send forth groans, beseech thy Master to be merciful: He is more moved by prayers in the night, when thou makest the time for rest a
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The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X · John Cassian
Germanus: The extent of our bewilderment at our wondering awe at the former Conference, because of which we came back again, increases still more. For in proportion as by the incitements of this teach
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Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul · Thomas à Kempis
HAPPY is he to whom truth manifests itself, not in signs and words that fade, but as it actually is. Our opinions, our senses often deceive us and we discern very little. What good is much discussion
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Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul · Thomas à Kempis
BE WATCHFUL and diligent in God’s service and often think of why you left the world and came here. Was it not that you might live for God and become a spiritual man? Strive earnestly for perfection, t
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The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults · John Cassian
But why should we spend any more time over evangelic and apostolic precepts, when even the old law, which is thought to be some Lev. xix. 17, 18. Prov. xii. 28 (LXX.). How useless is the retirement
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Ephraim Syrus: The Nisibene Hymns · Ephrem the Syrian
Hymn XVIII. 1. O thou who art made priest after thy master, the illustrious after the excellent, the chaste after the grave, the watchful after the abstinent, thy master from thee has not departed; i
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On Christian Doctrine · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 10.—To See God, the Soul Must Be Purified. 10. Wherefore, since it is our duty fully to enjoy the truth which lives unchangeably, and since the triune God takes counsel in this truth for the
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Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter III. 10. There are in all, then, these eight sentences. For now in what remains He speaks in the way of direct address to those who were present, saying: “Blessed shall ye be when men shall r
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The Conferences of John Cassian. Part I. Containing Conferences I-X · John Cassian
Cf. S. Luke vii. 47. Of the kinds of prayer to which we ought to direct ourselves. Yet we ought by advancing in life and attaining to virtue to aim rather at those kinds of prayer which are poured f
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The Twelve Books on the Institutes of the Cœnobia, and the Remedies for the Eight Principal Faults · John Cassian
Renunciation is nothing but the evidence of the cross and of mortification. And so you must know that to-day you are dead to this world and its deeds and desires, and that, as the Apostle says, you ar
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Narrative of Surprising Conversions · Jonathan Edwards
Many have spoken much of their hearts being drawn out in love to God and Christ; and of their minds being wrapt up in delightful contemplation of the glory and wonderful grace of God, the excellency a
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τὰ ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ τηλαυγῶς καθορᾶται. The same word in S. Mark viii. 25 (“clearly”) evidently refers to the second stage of recovered sight, the power of seeing the perspective. The mss. reading is ἐν τ
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Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
XXVII. Do not disdain to be baptized with a poor man, if you are rich; or if you are noble, with one who is lowborn; or if you are a master, with one who is up to the present time your slave. Not even
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The Conferences of John Cassian. Part II. Containing Conferences XI-XVII · John Cassian
Description of the town of Thennesus. When we were living in a monastery in Syria after our first infancy in the faith, and when after we had grown somewhat we had begun to long for some greater grac
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All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby.
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Internal Consolation · Thomas à Kempis
MY CHILD, if you place your peace in any creature because of your own feeling or for the sake of his company, you will be unsettled and entangled. But if you have recourse to the ever-living and abidi
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