The preceding illuminative stage was one in which the student perfected his human virtues, purged selfishness, and loved God…all to the degree that he was aware of. The unitive stage will take the student beyond the call of Christian duty, 79
beyond a sharing in the virtues of Christ, to a complete union of persons. The single resultant person is Christ, who is now all who constitute the body of Christ.
The unitive stage roots out hidden selfishness that is found even in virtue and religion. Such selfishness infects the very tools which are used to find it and correct it. Because of this, God often arranges events in the unitive stage.
Our final form in the unitive stage is so like that of Christ, that he may effortless and fully possess us; we have become divinized.
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Those courageously attaining the illuminative state, might expect a linear progression forward, but there is a necessary twist that occurs here, termed by St. John of the Cross “the dark night of the soul.” It is almost always misunderstood by those entering into the Unitive stage, and may be a pitfall if not properly understood.
The student feels justifiably proud of his virtue, but his virtue was not completely Christ’s virtue, it was tainted with remnant self. These last portions of self must be purged if the student is to become Christ, who is now the all who constitute the body of Christ.
Spiritual trials now occur, by consent or initiative of God with the goal of eliminating the legitimate self will of the student. These trials are misunderstood as punishments, given for reasons that cannot even be determined. These trials feel like anything other than the blessings they are. To participate fully in Christ, we cannot stop at virtuous self; self must go, that we may become Christ. This regimen of trials and aridity is allowed or produced by Christ for the particular purpose of eradicating self in the soul. Self: satisfaction, pity, indulgence, 80
centeredness, all must go before we may make divine union with Christ. This period of discipline, advancement and union is termed the dark night of the soul.
The years of grinding perseverance had paid off for the student of virtue; he has attained the illuminative state of soul.
The student would expect a linear progression forward, with his soul attaining greater worthiness each day. His acts of virtue are natural and enjoyable; the student has climbed to the summit of faith, and now expects to continue this way for his remaining time.
Christ has different plans for the student, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful ”, Jn 15:1,2.
What are these defects to be pruned? There are three primary ones:
(a) Spiritual Gluttony: The soul has an inordinate
attachment to consolations and begins to see them as ends, not means to the end.
(b) Spiritual Sloth: A laziness which creeps into the soul which does not strive for perfection anymore but is content with mediocrity in the spiritual life.
(c) Spiritual Pride: Since at this stage one is truly advancing in virtue, it is easy to become spiritually proud, or self satisfied in virtue.
The preceding list has a different tone than a list of sins to be purged in the beginner’s stage. We may attain membership in the human nature of Christ even with our imperfections, but 81
full union into the divine nature of Jesus Christ requires a complete purgation of all selfishness.
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