To open yourself to the possibility of mystical union with God, consider the following points:
The Nature of Mystical Union
- Definition: Mystical union is a profound and intimate union with Christ, participating in the mystery of Christ through the sacraments and, in Him, in the mystery of the Holy Trinity 1. It is also described as the most exalted condition attainable by the soul in this life, a "transforming union," "consummate union," or "deification" 2.
- Goal of Perfection: According to St. John of the Cross, the one goal of perfection is to be transformed into God 3.
- God's Initiative: The graces and signs of mystical life are gifts given to some to manifest the gratuitous gift given to all 1. God is the real protagonist in the process, and all a person can do is prepare themselves and be open to divine action 3.
Purification and Detachment
- Inner Purification: St. John of the Cross emphasizes the need for inner purification and self-emptying to be transformed into God. This involves eliminating every disorderly dependence on things and placing God as the center and goal of life 3.
- Purification Process: Purification begins with the life of the senses and continues with the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, which purify the intention, memory, and will 3.
- Dark Night: The "dark night" describes God's intervention in purifying the soul, where the Holy Spirit consumes every impurity, subjecting the soul to trials 3.
Contemplation and Prayer
- Acquired Contemplation: St. Alphonsus Liguori defines acquired contemplation as seeing truths at a simple glance that previously required prolonged discourse 4.
- Mystical Union: Mystical union is also called intuitive, passive, extraordinary, or higher contemplation 4.
- Stages of Mystical Union: St. Teresa of Avila described four stages of mystical union: incomplete mystical union or the prayer of quiet, full or semi-ecstatic union, ecstatic union or ecstasy, and transforming or deifying union or spiritual marriage of the soul with God 4.
Living the Virtues
- Theological Virtues: Growth in faith, hope, and charity accompanies purification and union with God, leading to transformation in Him 3.
- Love of God and Neighbor: The call to holiness involves a life of prayer, participation in the sacramental life of the Church, and an existence filled with love for God and neighbor 8.
- Trinitarian Life: The soul is immersed in Trinitarian life, loving God with the same love with which He loves it in the Holy Spirit. There is no true union of love with God that does not culminate in Trinitarian union 3.
Experiencing God in the World
- God in All Things: St. John of the Cross taught that the goodness in the world is present in God eminently and infinitely and that the mystic experiences the intimate connection between God and all beings 6.
- Finding God in Creation: Experiencing awe before creation and recognizing that all things are from God 6.
Community and Shared Experiences
- Community Life: Sharing the Word and celebrating the Eucharist together fosters fraternity and shared mystical experiences 7.
Conclusion
Opening yourself to mystical union with God involves a journey of purification, prayer, virtue, and recognizing God's presence in all things. It requires detaching from worldly attachments, embracing the theological virtues, and seeking God in both contemplation and everyday life 3 6. While mystical experiences are special graces given by God, all are called to holiness and a daily experience of love 1 8.
[1] CCC 2014
[2] Catholic Encyclopedia Mystical Marriage
[3] General Audience of 16 February 2011: Saint John of the Cross
[4] Catholic Encyclopedia Contemplation
[5] Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena 5
[6] Laudato Si 234
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