Book II, Chapter XII Summary and Analysis

As the spirits of those in purgatory are purged with real fire, so are souls on earth purged with the fire of love, which infuses both love and wisdom. It is this spirit of love and wisdom that pierces souls that also purifies angels' souls. The more complete this purging is, the closer to God a being will become, whether man or angel. This enkindling of love accompanies the union of understanding and the will. Sometimes at the desire of the Lord, there may be understanding imparted to the soul but no love, or love but no understanding.