Saint Peter and The Three Stages of the Spiritual Life

1 hour 4 min. (1 CD / 1 DVD / MP3)

Have you ever wondered how to make progress in the spiritual life? Ever feel like your faults and failings have you just going in circles? You're not alone. In this illuminating Bible study, Dr. Brant Pitre looks at the spiritual life of Saint Peter through the lens of the three traditional stages or 'ages' of the spiritual life:

• The Purgative Way
• The Illuminative Way
• The Unitive Way

Dr. Pitre uses this framework to show how in the Gospels and the book of Acts, Simon Peter goes through the common stages of:

• Spiritual Childhood (during Jesus' public ministry)
• Spiritual Adolescence (after the crucifixion and resurrection)
• Spiritual Adulthood (after Pentecost)

Seen in this light, Peter's life reveals to us the progress and the pitfalls encountered by one of the greatest saints of all time. Most people can identify with Peter in the early stages of his discipleship, when he is constantly putting his foot in his mouth! But, as this inspiring Bible study shows, eventually, by means of the grace of God, Peter was transformed from a man who was so afraid of suffering that he betrayed Christ to an apostle of the Holy Spirit, who performed miracles, converted thousands, and laid the foundations of the Church. If you're looking for inspiration on making progress in your own spiritual life, and if you've ever identified with the mistakes made by Peter, then this is the Bible study for you.

This recording was taken from the conference series, The Apostle Peter and the Papacy.