MY DAILY BREAD
BOOK TWO
The Way of Imitation
THIS IS THE SECOND STAGE in one's spiritual development. In abandoning his serious faults and his predominant venial sins, the spiritual beginner has laid a solid foundation of many virtues. In a sense, however, his spiritual growth thus far has been a negative sort of thing; that is, he has advanced in the various virtues by resisting the faults to which they were opposed.BOOK TWO
The Way of Imitation
Christ's follower is now invited to rise to a higher degree of union with God. He is to do this by imitating the example which Christ set in His earthly life. Jesus said, "He that sees Me, sees the Father also." Therefore, the more Christ-like one becomes in his daily life, the more God-like will he be.
This second level of the supernatural life is known as the illuminative way, the way of enlightenment. By drawing closer to Christ in friendship, man comes to understand God more clearly and appreciate Him more fully. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life ... Learn of Me ... " Christ's follower must now take his eyes away from himself for longer periods, so that he may concentrate more and more upon his King and Model. He no longer practices the various virtues of daily life to oppose his faults, but to show Christ a greater love and loyalty.
