01
The Sonward movement
The Father draws the soul toward Jesus Christ. The soul may begin to desire to know, love, follow, and belong to Jesus, without necessarily recognizing the Father’s drawing.
Christian spiritual journey
The Sonward–Fatherward Journey in the Spiritual Life
Guides on the Christian Journey to the Father Through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit
A place to contemplate the Christian journey toward the Father: the Father draws the soul to the Son, the Son leads the soul back to the Father, and the Holy Spirit teaches us to cry, “Abba! Father!”
The central idea
The Sonward–Fatherward journey
The Christian spiritual life is a journey toward the Father through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. The Father takes the initiative and draws the soul to the Son; the soul encounters Christ and learns to remain with Him. Through a deeper union with Christ, the Son leads the soul toward the Father.
02
The Fatherward movement
As the soul grows in union with Christ, it learns to love the Father, seek His glory, and do His will. Through the Son, in the Holy Spirit, the soul is led Fatherward.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” John 6:44
03
The Father’s pruning
Even after the soul has encountered Christ and begun to bear fruit, the Father continues to prune it so that it may bear more fruit in Christ. This work may involve purification, detachment, correction, and sacrifice (John 15:1–2).
04
The three ways of spiritual life
The purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways offer a traditional framework for contemplating conversion, growth in God’s light, and deeper union with Christ.
These terms are used here as a framework for the spiritual journey. God’s initiative comes first: He creates us through love and for Himself, and His grace precedes our response. Not every Christian consciously experiences or identifies these movements, and recognizing them is not proof of spiritual attainment. Some souls may also be called in a particular way to remain with Christ, be formed by Him, and be sent into His mission.
Read and reflect
Some reflections
These reflections trace the development of this spiritual framework, from God’s initiative to the Sonward–Fatherward movements. The dates shown are the original publication dates provided by the author.
Spiritual Life: The Journey Toward the Father
An introduction to the Christian journey through the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways: a journey with Christ, in the Holy Spirit, toward the Father.
Explore the central idea →The Two Movements in the Spiritual Life
The Father draws the soul to the Son; the Son leads the soul back to the Father. This reflection also shares the author’s personal experience as one example, not a measure of holiness.
Explore the two movements →Priestly Formation and the Two Movements in the Spiritual Life
For some souls, Christ calls them to be with Him, forms them as disciples, and sends them through the Church into His mission.
Explore formation and mission →The Sonward–Fatherward Movements and the Father’s Pruning
The Father continues to prune the soul so that it may bear more fruit in Christ, along the one journey from Sonward to Fatherward.
Explore the Father’s pruning →God’s Initiative and the Sonward–Fatherward Movements in the Spiritual Life
Before our response, God’s initiative is already at work: He creates us through love and for Himself, and never ceases to draw us to Himself (CCC 27).
Reflect on God’s initiative →These reflections summarize the spiritual journey towards the Father.
Ask a question
Spiritual Life Assistant
Ask a brief question about spiritual life.
Thank you.