The author of this article, based on the accounts of the blessed Dorothy of Montau [Dorothea von Montau] (1347–1394), a medieval mystic, related by a theologian and confessor John of Kwidzyn [Joannes Marienwerder] (1343–1417), in a little work entitled Septililium, firstly, analyzes the degrees of spiritual life in order to present the degrees of supernatural love against such background, which were part of the experience of the recluse from the cathedral church in Kwidzyn. Spiritual life as a relationship of love with God encompasses an entire life. The pluralism of aspects is very rich. Traditionally understood religious life goes through the process of cleansings of the senses, then, the acceptance of the virtues of faith, hope and love, in order to enter a path of contemplative prayer and mystical communion. Love is the essence of spiritual life. The blessed Dorothy of Montau enjoyed a gift of seven graces: the gift of love, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the love of the Eucharist, contemplation, perfectness of life and the gift of penitence. God is worthy of perfect love. The Master of Kwidzyn mentions more degrees and characteristics of that love recognized in the theological reflection and mystical acts of the blessed Dorothy of Montau. The love of God should be: “wide” so in the love of God it is loving all men, then, “ordered”, as well as “limitless.” Perfect love as spiritual disposition is “continuous”, “deeply rooted”, “brave”, “constant”, then, “heated”, “on fire and wanting”, “ascending high”, i.e., exceeding the love of man and “overwhelming” as the one leading to God by the way of Commandments, the wandering from “virtue into virtue” and “the path of advice” of the Holy Spirit. The perfect love according to God’s inspiration is the highest elevation of the human spirit strengthened by God that is why it has the features of “hurt”, it is “unsettling”, “impatient”, and even surprisingly “crazy”, “sweet”, “greedy”, always “insatiable”, and since it is limited by human existence, it is thus “longing”, “intoxicating”, “enriching”, “cheering up”. Spiritual love must radiate. Joannes Marienwerder employs the word “gushing”, it is ample so it is “overflowing” every man and it is, of course, “wise”, as well as “invincible”, is not subject to “fatigue”, it is “impossible to lose”, “immortal”, “great and heart-breaking”. Finally, in the treatise entitled On Love by the blessed Dorothy of Montau as many as thirty six degrees of love are listed and briefly characterized.
