To the perfection of this high Contemplation may no man come till he be first reformed in soul to the likeness of Jesus in the perfection of virtues: nor can any man living in mortal body have it continually and habitually in the height of it, but by times when he is visited. And as I conceive by the writing of holy men, it is a full short time, for soon after he returneth to a sobriety of bodily feeling; and of all this work charity is the cause. Thus, as I understand St Paul speaks of himself: For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God, or whether we be sober, it is for your cause; it is the love of Christ that constraineth us; that is, whether we overpass our bodily senses in Contemplation, or we are more sober to you in our bodily feeling, the love of Christ straineth us. (John Climacus)

Three categories of relationship have been offered: knowing, feeling, and Contemplative.

The Contemplative includes both knowing and feeling. The Contemplative experiences God, has a meaningful understanding of the experience, and both knowing and feeling is amplified by God's love.

The intimacy of simultaneously knowing and experiencing God's love is ecstatic, we are taken outside ourselves and become wholly one with God.

But this is not a typical condition, not even for the most holy of us.

We can cultivate knowing and feeling and loving, but just as Jesus was constrained by his earthly condition, there is purpose to our humanity.

The image is of the Ecstasy of St. Paul by Nicholas Poussin.