without witnesses, to pour out their hearts in isolation, in the most pure and intimate union. The delightful Guest of our soul aspires to this union, and the mystery of it is accomplished by the theological virtues.… … [The] loving intimacy that the Spirit longs for, the soul sighs for, cannot be brought about except by the theological virtues. To repeat: the other virtues empty the soul, place it in the desired solitude, cleanse and adorn it. But for communicating with the Beloved in this solitude,
Page 44