Spiritual Theology

Catholic spiritual writers have long described the journey to God in three stages: the purgative, illuminative and unitive ways. Here is what each stage involves, how prayer changes along the way, and why the map helps ordinary Catholics, not just mystics.

The phrase 'dark night of the soul' is now used for any hard time, but it comes from St John of the Cross, who meant something precise: a painful purification by which God draws the soul closer. Here is what the dark night really is, its signs, and how it differs from depression.

There is one Catholic faith but many ways of living it. Benedictines, Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelites, Jesuits and others each offer a distinct path to holiness. Here is a guide to the great schools of Catholic spirituality and what each might offer you.