St. John of the Cross, drawing from the insights of St. Bernard of Clairvaux and St. Thomas Aquinas, describes the spiritual journey toward divine union as an ascent on the “mystic ladder of divine love.” This ladder, also called “the ladder of contemplative purgation,” symbolizes the soul’s progressive purification and deepening love for God through infused contemplation. St. John begins by defining contemplation as “the science of love, which is an infused loving knowledge of God, and which enlightens the soul and at the same time kindles within it the fire of love till it shall ascend upwards step by step unto God its Creator; for it is love only that unites the soul and God” (433). He likens love to fire, which “ever ascends, hastening to be absorbed in the centre of its sphere” (440).
St. John delineates ten steps on this mystical ladder, detailing the signs and effects of each stage to guide those enduring the dark nights and seeking to discern their progress in divine love.
The Ten Steps of the Mystic Ladder
1. Love Causes the Soul to Languish for God
In the first step, love detaches the soul from earthly desires, making it languish with longing for God. The soul begins to experience a profound disinterest in worldly pleasures, focusing entirely on God. St. John references the Song of Songs: “I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my Beloved, that you tell Him that I languish with love” (Song 5:8).
2. Love Inspires a Constant Search for God
The soul becomes consumed with seeking the Beloved in all things—thoughts, words, and actions. This search is unceasing, as exemplified in Scripture: “I will rise; I will seek Him whom my soul loveth” (Song 3:1–2) and “Seek His face always” (Ps 104:4).
3. Love Gives the Soul Fervor in Its Work
Love fills the soul with fervor, enabling it to labor tirelessly for God’s glory. The soul desires to die a thousand deaths to compensate for its perceived insufficiencies in serving Him. St. John quotes, “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, he shall delight exceedingly in His commandments” (Ps 111:1) and “They seemed but a few days because of the greatness of his love” (Gen 29:20).
4. Love Strengthens the Soul to Suffer Boldly for God
At this stage, love emboldens the soul to endure suffering for God’s sake without seeking gain for itself. The soul’s sole desire is to please God at any cost. St. Augustine observes, “Love makes all that is grievous and heavy to be light as nothing.”
5. Love Creates an Impatient Longing for God
The soul, now filled with divine love, longs for God with such intensity that it becomes impatient for union. As the psalmist expresses, “My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord” (Ps 83:2).
6. Love Propels the Soul Swiftly Toward God
In this step, love accelerates the soul’s movement toward God, carrying it with strength and urgency. Scripture conveys this dynamic movement: “They that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Is 40:31) and “As the hart panteth after the fountains of waters, so my soul panteth after Thee, O God” (Ps 41:1).
7. Love Makes the Soul Bold in Prayer
Love gives the soul boldness to ask God for what it desires, trusting that its prayers will be answered. St. John reflects on the boldness of love: “Love… believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (1 Cor 13:7) and “Delight in the Lord, and He will give thee the requests of thy heart” (Ps 36:4).
8. Love Enables the Soul to Hold Fast to God
Having found the Beloved, the soul clings tightly to Him, refusing to let go. St. John recalls the words of the Bride in the Song of Songs: “I found Him whom my heart and soul love; I held Him and I will not let Him go” (Song 3:4).
9. Love Fills the Soul with Sweetness from the Holy Spirit
At this stage, the soul experiences an intense sweetness from the Holy Spirit, who bestows upon it indescribable riches and blessings. St. Gregory comments that the Apostles “burned interiorly with love sweetly, when the Holy Ghost descended upon them.”
10. Love Perfects the Soul in Union with God
In the final step, the soul is wholly assimilated to God, achieving perfect union through the clear and immediate vision of Him. This stage is characterized by the soul’s complete transformation into the divine. St. John draws on the beatitudes: “Blessed are the clean in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt 5:8) and “We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like to Him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
Conclusion: The Ladder as a Journey to Divine Union
The mystic ladder of divine love outlined by St. John of the Cross is a vivid representation of the soul’s ascent toward union with God. Each step signifies a deepening purification and intensification of love, drawing the soul closer to its Creator. St. John’s reflections provide invaluable guidance for those navigating the dark nights, emphasizing that love is both the means and the end of the spiritual journey. As he affirms, “it is love only that unites the soul and God” (433). Through this transformative process, the soul becomes increasingly conformed to God’s image, culminating in the beatific vision and eternal communion with Him.
Prodigal Catholic 