Ascent and Paradise

Denique justi in paradisum saepe rapiuntur, sicut et Paulus raptus est in paradisum, et audivit verba ineffabilia. Et tu si a primo coelo ad secundum, a secundo ad tertium mentis tuae vigore rapiaris, hoc est, quod primum unusquisque homo est corporalis, secundo animalis, tertio spiritalis: si ita rapiaris ad tertium coelum, ut videas fulgorem gratiae spiritalis, animalis enim homo quae sunt spiritus Dei nescit, et ideo tertii coeli ascensio tibi est necessaria, ut rapiaris in paradisum: rapieris jam sine periculo, ut possis dijudicare omnia, quia spiritalis dijudicat omnia, ipse autem a nemine dijudicatur. Et fortasse quasi adhuc fragilis, audies verba ineffabilia quae non liceat homini loqui: et tunc quod acceperis reservato, et quod audieris custodito. Paulus apostolus custodiebat ne laberetur, vel alios certe faceret errare. Aut fortasse ideo dicit Paulus, quae non liceat homini loqui; quia erat adhuc in corpore constitutus, hoc est, videbat istius corporis passiones, videbat legem carnis suae repugnantem legi mentis suae. Hoc enim malo intelligi, ne videamur quemdam adhuc futuri periculi jactare terrorem. Si enim vel propter hanc vitam securitas, ut nullos praevaricationis post hanc futurae laqueos formidemus: ergo quicumque fuerit in paradiso ascensione virtutis audiet mysteria Dei arcana illa atque secreta: audiet dicentem Dominum tamquam latroni illi a scelere ad confessionem, et ad fidem a latrocinio revertenti: Hodie mecum eris in paradiso Sanctus Ambrosius Mediolanensis, De Paradiso, Caput XI

Hence the righteous are often caught up into Paradise, just as Paul 'was caught up into paradise and heard secret words that man may not repeat.' 1 And if from the first heaven to the second and from the second heaven to the third, by the vigor of your mind, you are caught up, this is how: each man is first of all corporeal, secondly of a sensual nature, thirdly he is spiritual, so if you are caught up to the third heaven you may behold the brilliance of spiritual grace, 'for the sensual man does not perceive the Spirit of God,' 2 and therefore the ascent into the third heaven is necessary for you in order that you may be caught up into Paradise. Now, without peril, you will be caught up, in order that you may be able to pass judgment on everything, because 'the spiritual man judges all things and he himself is judged by no man.' 3 And perhaps, although still weak, you will hear the ineffable words which it is not given to man to speak, and so what you receive keep, and what you hear guard. Paul the Apostle kept guard lest he slip and for a certainty make others err. Or perhaps Paul said 'that which it is not given to man to speak' 4 because he was yet in the body, that is, because he saw the passions of this body and because he saw the law of his flesh 'warring against the law of his mind.' 5 This I prefer to understand, lest we appear to cast off the terror of future danger, if on account of this security of life we do not fear the snares of sin in the future. Whoever, then, shall ascend into Paradise by virtue will hear those mysterious and secret words of God. He shall hear, too, the Lord speaking as to that repentant thief who was moved from crime to confession and turned from theft to faith, 'This day you will be with me in paradise.' 6 Saint Ambrose, from On Paradise, Chap 11 1 2 Cor 12:4.5 2 1 Cor 2:14 3 1 Cor 2:15  4 2 Cor 12:4 5 Rom 7:23  6 Lk 23:43