One day, while I was busy with the bodily labor of the hands, I began to think about man’s spiritual exercise, and four spiritual steps suddenly presented themselves to my pondering soul: reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation. This is the ladder of cloistered monks6 whereby they are lifted up from earth into heaven; although it is divided into only a few steps, its length is nonetheless immense and incredible. Its lower part rests on the earth, but its upper part penetrates the clouds and