THE LADDER of MONKS
by Guigo II
(1140-1193)

Epistola de Vita Contemplativa
(Scala Claustralium)

A Carthusian enters the Grand Chartreuse,
The Belles Heures of John Duke of Berry, 1408 fol 97.

II. CONCERNING the FOUR RUNGS
[of the Ladder]

II DE QUATUOR GRADIBUS

ONE DAY while I was occupied with manual labor

Cum die quadam corporali manuum labore occupatus

I began to reflect on man’s spiritual work,

de spiritali hominis exercitio cogitare coepissem,

and suddenly four steps for the soul came into my reflection:

quatuor spiritales gradus animo cogitanti se subito obtulerunt

reading,

  meditation,

    prayer,

       [and] contemplation

lectio

  scilicet meditatio,

    oratio

      contemplatio

THIS is a ladder for monks (lit.“the cloistered”)

Haec est scala claustralium

by means of which they are raised up from earth to heaven

qua de terra in coelum sublevantur,

It has [only a] few separate rungs, yet its length is immense and incredible:

gradibus quidem distincta paucis, immensae tamen et incredibilis magnitudinis,

The Divine Comedy, Paradiso,
“Peter Damien at the ladder of heaven”
Oxford, Bodl. MS.Holkh. misc.48, p.139

for its lower part stands on the earth,

cujus extrema pars terrae innixa est,

while its higher [part] pierces the clouds and touches the secrets of heaven.

superior vero nubes penetrat et coelorum secreta rimatur

JUST as its rungs have various names and numbers,

Hi gradus sicut nominibus et numero sunt diversi

so also so they differ in order and merit;

ita ordine et merito sunt distincti;

- what each [rung] does in relation to us, how they differ from one another and how they are ranked-

quid singuli circa nos efficiant, quomodo inter se differant et praeemineant, si quis diligenter inspiciat, 

he will regard whatever labor and study he expends as brief and simple compared with the great usefulness and sweetness [he gains].

 quidquid laboris et studii impenderit in eis breve reputabit et facile prae utilitatis et dulcedinis magnitudine.

Reading is careful study of [Sacred]  Scripture,

Est autem lectio sedula scriptuaru

with the soul’s [whole] attention:

cum animi intentione inspectio.

Meditation is the studious action of the mind

Meditatio est studiosa mentis actio,

to investigate hidden truth, led by one’s own reason.

occultae veritatis notitiam ductu propriae rationis investigans.

Prayer is the heart’s devoted attending to God,

Oratio est devota cordis in Deum intentio

so that evil may be removed

pro malis removendis

and good may be obtained.

vel bonis adipiscendis.

Contemplation is the mind suspended -somehow elevated above itself - in God 

Contemplatio est mentis in Deum suspensae quaedam supra se elevatio

so that it tastes the joys of everlasting sweetness.

eternae dulcedinis gaudia degustans

HAVING assgned descriptions to each of the four rungs,

Assignatus ergo quatuor graduum descriptionibus,

we must see what their functions are in relation to us.

restat ut eorum circa nos officia videamus.

III THE FUNCTIONS of THESE AFOREMENTIONED RUNGS

III QUAE SUNT OFFICIA PRAEDICTORUM GRADUUM

FOR the sweetness of a blessed life:

Beatae vitae dulcedinem 

Reading seeks; 

meditation finds;

meditatio invenit,

prayer asks;

oratio postulat,

contemplation tastes.

contemplatio degustat

Reading, so to speak, puts food solid in the mouth,

Lectio quasi solidum cibum ori apponit,

meditation chews and breaks it,

meditatio masticat et frangit

prayer attains its savor,

oratio saporem acquirit,

contemplation is itself the sweetness that rejoices and refreshes.

contemplatio est ipsa dulcedo quae jocundat et reficit.

Reading concerns the surface,

Lectio in cortice,

meditation concerns the depth

meditatio in adipe,

prayer concerns request for what is desired,

oratio in desiderii postulatione,

contemplation concerns delight in discovered sweetness.

contemplatio in adeptae dulcedinis delectatione.

IX HOW GRACE
is HIDDEN

IX DE GRATIAE OCCULTATIONE

O MY soul, too long have we prolonged this speech.  Yet it was good for us to be here, and with Peter and John to contemplate the glory of the spouse; and to abide for a time with Him, had He wished us to make here not two, not three tabernacles, but one in which we might dwell together, and together be filled with joy.

O anima, diu protraximus sermonem istum.  Bonum enim erat nos hic esse et cum Petro et cum Johanne contemplari gloriam sponsi et diu manere cum illo, si vellet hic fieri non duo, non tria tabernacula, sed unum in quo simul essemus, simul delectaremur.

Sed jam, dicit sponsus, dimitte me, jam enim ascendit aurora, jam lumen gratiae et visitationem quam desiderabas accepisti. 

HE thus gives his blessing, He withers the nerve of the thigh, He changes the name of Jacob to Israel; and then for a brief time He withdraws, this spouse so long desired, so quickly gone.

Data ergo benedictione et mortificato nervo femorum et mutato nomine de Jacob in Israel, paulisper secedit sponsus diu desideratus, cito elapsus.

Jacob Wrestles with the Angel, 12th c. illum MS

HE removes himself,

        thus ending, too, [our] visitation,

        and the sweetness of contemplation;

Subtrahit se

quantum ad praedictam visitationem,

quantum ad contemplationis dulcedinem;

  but yet His presence abides [with us]:

thus guiding [us];

thus giving [us] grace;

thus uniting [us to Himself].

manet tamen praesens

quantum ad gubernationem,

quantum ad gratiam,

quantum ad unionem.

XII  RECAPITULATION

XII  RECAPITULATIO PRAEDICTORUM

IN order to focus more clearly what we have already said at length, we will gather it into a summary. In what was said above it has been shown through examples how these three rungs interrelate with each other, and how they precede one another another in both the orders of time and causality.

Ut ergo quae diffusius dicta sunt simul juncta melius videantur, praedictorum summam recapitulando colligamus.  Sicut in praemissis praenotatum est exemplis, videre potes quomodo praedicti gradus sibi invicem cohaereant; et sicut temporaliter, ita est causaliter se praecedant.

Reading, like a foundation, comes first: and by giving us the matter for meditation, it sends us on to meditation.

Lectio est enim quasi fundamentum prima occurrit, et data materia mittit nos ad meditationem.

Meditation diligently investigates what is to be sought; it digs, so to speak, for treasure which it [then] finds and exposes: but since it is of itself powerless to obtain it, it sends us on to prayer.

Meditatio quid appetendum sit diligentius inquirit, et quasi effodiens thesaurum invenit et ostendit; sed cum per se obtenere non valeat, mittit nos ad orationem.

Prayer, lifting itself with its whole strength to God, pleads for the desired treasure - the sweetness of contemplation.

Oratio se totis viribus ad Deum erigens, impetrat thesaurum desiderabilem, contemplationis suavitatem.

[Contemplation’s] advent rewards the labors of the other three; it inebriates the thirsty soul with the sweetness of heavenly dew.

Haec adveniens praedictorum trium laborem remunerat, dum coelestis rore dulcedinis animam sitientem inebriat.  

Reading accords with exercise of the outward [senses];

meditation accords with interior understanding;

prayer accords with desire;

contemplation is above all senses.

Lectio est secundum exterius exercitium,

meditatio secundum interiorem intellectum,

oratio secundum desiderium, 

contemplatio supra omnem sensum.

The first degree pertains to beginners,

The second to the proficient,

the third to devotees,

the fourth to the blessed.

Primus gradus est incipientium,

secundus proficientium,

tertius devotorum,

quartus beatorum.