Main Points
grace, prayer, spiritual growth, contemplation, and virtue..
Description
The Three Ages of the Interior Life, Volume 1, by Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P., offers a systematic Thomistic exposition of Christian spirituality, outlining the soul's progression through the purgative, illuminative, and unitive stages toward divine union, grounded in St. Thomas Aquinas and the works of recognized spiritual authors such as St. Augustine, St. Benedict, and St. John of the Cross. Its main themes emphasize the universal call to holiness for all Christians—not merely an elite few—through the cultivation of virtues, gifts of the Holy Spirit, asceticism, and infused contemplation, as detailed in lists of indispensable spiritual writings that guide the interior life. Theologically, this monumental classic holds enduring significance, influencing Vatican II's teachings on the universal vocation to perfection and the mystery of the Trinity's indwelling, while serving as a corrective to modern spiritualities and a defense of traditional doctrine.
