Bede Griffiths (iii)

    The human person is a centre of consciousness which is capable of infinite extension. As it grows it becomes more and more integrated with the whole complex of persons who make up humanity.
     We become more ourselves as we enter more deeply into relationship with others. We do not lose ourselves but we lose our sense of separation and division.
     This is essentially a mystery of love. When two people love each other they do not lose their distinction of persons, they become more fully personal.
     The whole process of evolution, as Teilhard de Chardin saw it, is a process of personalisation. The ultimate goal of humanity is a communion of persons in love.
     This is what was revealed in St John's gospel when Jesus prayed for his disciples ‘that they may be one as you Father, are in me and I in you, that they may be one in us’ (John 17:21). 

In their many different idioms the classical spiritual writers have attempted to throw light on the eternal question of union with God. 
Every month we give you a brief passage from a spiritual classic.