The Desert ascetics of Egypt followed a three-step path to mysticism: "Purgatio", "Illuminatio", and "Unitio". These stages correspond to the three ways of later Catholic theology. During the first level, "Purgatio" (in Greek, "Catharsis"), young monks struggled through prayer and ascetic practices to gain control of "the flesh"—specifically by purging their gluttony, lust and desire for possessions. This period of purgation, which often took many years, was intended to teach young monks that whatever strength they had to resist these desires (grace) came directly from the Holy Spirit.