Book II, Chapter XIX Summary and Analysis

There are ten steps on the ladder of love which leads to God. On the first step, the soul swoons for God. It acts much the same way as a person does in the early stage of romantic love. On the second step, the soul searches for its love, God, with all of its strength. When the soul reaches the third step on the ladder of love, it will display a desire to work for God, as well as the strength to do this work without failing or stopping. Also on this step, the soul becomes aware of the feeling that it is worse off spiritually than other souls and that the things it is able to do for God are small and insignificant.

On the fourth step of love, the soul seeks to do...