As we draw closer to the end of Lent… the Church presents the faithful not just with guidance, but with a ladder — a spiritual staircase. This comes through the book of Saint John Climacus, whose memory is honored on March 30.
Saint John Climacus was born in the 6th century into a wealthy family. He had education, opportunities, and a bright future ahead of him. And yet… he chose something different. He left everything behind and went to Sinai. There, he lived a life of prayer, ascetic discipline, and spiritual struggle. He became a monk, a spiritual guide, and an abbot… yet once again, he chose to return to silence and stillness. And it was then that he wrote a book: The Ladder.
Thirty steps. Thirty stages toward heaven. Not theories, but struggle. Humility. Patience. Prayer. Love.
This is why the Church places him within the period of Lent — to remind the faithful that fasting is not only about what you eat… it is about how you ascend spiritually.
