The synopsis of the spiritual life is in this great book  Light, Happiness and Peace published by Shepherd of Christ just February, 2007 —
We have circulated this wonderful book to over 8,000 priests —

From Fr. John's book
Light Happiness and Peace
the Introduction

 "The first stage of the spiritual life involves
the purgative stage, a stage of purification.
It is followed by the illuminative stage,
a stage of great enlightenment and integration.
The third and final stage is the unitive stage.
This is the stage of the mystics. It is the
stage when one's will and God's will are united
to such an extent that one may say,
without much reservation, that every
action performed is an
action of God."<