St John of the Ladder

“The holy and heavenly fire,” said St John of the Ladder, “consumes some because of the insufficiency of their purity, while others it, on the contrary, illumines, for they have achieved perfection. The one and the same fire is called a consuming fire and a light that illumines. For this reason, some come out of their prayer as though they were in a heated bath, feeling some relief from defilement and materiality, while others come out shining with light, dressed in the clothing of humility and joy. Those who, after their prayer, sense neither one or the other are still praying bodily, not spiritually.”