Claim. The four stages are not interchangeable virtues but a strict prerequisite chain: each stage absolutely requires the one below it.
Elaboration. SMM stresses dependency: “People absolutely need to fulfill the duties of devoted children, loyal patriots, saints, and holy children… The realm of reciprocal relationships with God can connect from heaven to the world and to the family beginning with the individual. You must, therefore, fulfill all these duties while still on earth” (CSG 14.1 §2, 285-91, 1997.4.21). The order is not optional: “spouses must love each other in order to become children of filial piety. You can become loyal patriots after becoming people of filial piety, and you can become saints after becoming loyal patriots, and after you have become saints, you can become holy sons and daughters” (206-175, 1990.10.7). Skipping a stage breaks the chain. The teaching reframes restoration as an obligatory developmental ladder rather than a single forensic event — every higher religious dignity requires the foundation of the prior stage’s substantial love.