Quote for the Night: The Three Degrees of the Spiritual Life

[Shin]

'In the spiritual life there are three degrees: the first may be called the animal life; this is the life of those who run after sensible devotion, which God generally gives to beginners, to allure them onwards by that sweetness to the spiritual life, just as an animal is drawn on by a sensible object.'

St. Philip Neri

[Daniel]

...and the others?

[Shin]

'The second degree may be called the human life; this is the life of those who do not experience any sensible sweetness, but by the help of virtue combat their own passions.'

St. Philip Neri

So someone is interested!

Welcome to the forums Daniel! I pray you have a good time here, and enjoy the writings of the saints and talking about how they inspire!

Be sure to read the announcements, there are no link postings here for example, there's good information there for your start. 

 

[Therese]

And the third degree?

[Shin]

'The third degree may be called the angelic life; this is the life which they come to, who, having been exercised for a long time in the taming of their own passions, receive from God a quiet, tranquil, and almost angelic life, even in this world, feeling no trouble or repugnance in anything. Of these three degrees it is well to persevere in the second, because the Lord will grant the third in His own good time.'

St. Philip Neri

I was waiting to be asked. 

I often think of St. John the Dwarf when I think of men living like angels. 

 

[odhiambo]

It is to those who have the most need of us that we ought to show our love more especially.
Saint Francis de Sales