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Active and passive contemplation alternately experienced, that is, the prayer of simplicity acquired by human effort, and mystical union freely infused by God. Sometimes called the first degree of infused contemplation. The mystical union may be of short duration, or it may last for a longer time, partly depending on a person's ability to sustain it, but mainly on the gratuitous dispensation of God's providence.
All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.