Where you are on the path
What happens in the soul?
After the purifications of the Purgative Way and the illuminations of the Illuminative Way, the soul enters into a deep union with the Good Lord.
The essential thing about this age is the conformity of the human will with the divine will.
The soul accepts what God has and desires to please Him at all times.
It is no longer just a matter of discovering what God’s will is, as was the case during discernment. Now begin to live with a deep disposition to accept and obey it.
The action of the Good Lord
the Good Lord leads the soul towards an ever deeper conformity with His will.
Confidence in the soul’s Providence grows and an inner peace is strengthened that remains even when circumstances are adverse.
At the same time, the soul increasingly recognizes its smallness and its total dependence on God.
From there comes great humility.
How do you live?
A deep inner peace appears in everyday life, even in the most adverse circumstances.
The person tries to receive what happens with increasing trust in the Providence of the Good Lord.
Live with obedience and docility to the divine will, seeking to please God at all times.
At the same time the soul recognizes herself as small and completely dependent on Him.
Therefore, in the face of difficulties, the inner attitude is no longer dominated primarily by resistance to what happens, but by a deep willingness to accept what God has in store.
The prayer
The Via Unitiva is characterized by a mainly contemplative prayer and by a deep, habitual and transforming union with God.
In this first age, prayer accompanies the conformity of the will: the soul lives oriented towards the Good Lord, trusting in His Providence and seeking to please Him.
Signs that may accompany this age
• Deep inner peace, even in adverse circumstances.
• Obedience to the divine will.
• Docility to the will of God.
• Complete confidence in the soul’s Providence.
• Great humility.
• Recognition of one’s own smallness.
• Total dependence on God.
• Acceptance of what God provides.
• Desire to please you at all times.
A phrase to remember
“Accept what God has and desire to please Him at all times.”
Where does it lead
The human will has begun to conform deeply to the divine will.
But the union can still advance further.
In the next age, a stable and transformative union is reached, in which the person is no longer distinguished from the will of God. Continuous prayer appears, a deep joy that does not depend on emotions or circumstances, absence of fear, heroic charity and an extraordinary power of intercession.
“At this level life in heaven begins.”
Age 24 — Spiritual marriage →