And the ascent and descent are by Him as well as to Him. Following His example, those who preach Him not only rise to behold Him exalted, but let themselves down to give a plain announcement of the truth. Each philosopher, theologion, teacher, or tradition has its own ideas as to how many rungs their ladder to perfection should contain but twelve, seven, or ten runged ladders are the most common. One may be thought to ascend a ladder by attaining wisdom and descend that same ladder to demonstrate or scatter the fruits of that wisdom in the exercise of various virtues or the doing of good works. St. John Chrysostom urged his congregation to climb a Jacob's ladder of virtue to heaven, correcting one fault a month as if it were a step in a spiritual ladder.
Several saints have ladders as one of their attributes because of their visions or teachings.
These include St. John Cassian, St. Andrew, St. Romuald, St. Benedict, St. Perpetua, and St. John Climacus. St. Benedict's ladder represents his vision of the members of his order climbing to heaven on the twelve runged ladder promoted in chapter seven of his Rule. St. Romuald, the founder of the Order of Camaldoli, decreed that its members be dressed in white because he had dreamed of white-robed men ascending and descending upon heaven's ladder while he was looking for a place to build his monastery. This work was illustrated with a picture of monks falling or being assaulted by demons while ascending a ladder to heaven. Climacus may be portrayed writing his book as a vision of this ladder floats near him.