The Spiritual Combat, first published in 1589, provides timeless guidance in spiritual discipline. St Francis de Sales (1576-1622) read from it himself every day and recommended it to everyone under his direction. Spiritual Combat has influenced Catholic and Eastern Orthodox spirituality for four hundred years. The purpose of the work is to lead the soul to the summit of spiritual perfection, by means of a constant, courageous struggle against our evil nature, which tends to keep us away from that goal.
St. Frances de Sales called it “the favorite, the dear book” of this great master of the spiritual life who, for 18 years, carried in a pocket a copy which he had received from Fr. Scupoli in Padua himself. The Saint read some pages of it every day, entrusted to its supernatural and human wisdom, the guidance of his soul, and recommended it to all under his direction.
Salvation and spiritual perfection should not be sought haphazardly; a strategy is needed to win the battle for our souls.
Vigorous, realistic and full of keen insight into human nature, The Spiritual Combat consists of short chapters based on the maxim that in the spiritual life one must either “fight or die”. Fr. Scupoli shows the Christian how to combat his passions and vices, especially impurity and sloth, in order to arrive at victory.
Here, Dom Lorenzo Scupoli helps you take your proper part in this spiritual battle so that you can win – decisively – the war for your soul.
This book has been loved by saints and sinners alike ever since it was written four hundred years ago. Why? Because it offers sensible advice to help you overcome spiritual obstacles and achieve spiritual perfection. With wise spiritual guidance like this and much more, you’ll soon be winning all your spiritual battles – battles that most people concede without a fight!
Spiritual Combat Table of Contents
PREFACE
CHAPTER ONE
PRELIMINARY WORDS ON PERFECTION—THE FOUR THINGS NECESSARY FOR THIS COMBAT
CHAPTER TWO
DISTRUST OF SELF
CHAPTER THREE
OF TRUST IN GOD
CHAPTER FOUR
HOW TO DISCOVER WHETHER WE DISTRUST OURSELVES AND PLACE OUR CONFIDENCE IN GOD
CHAPTER FIVE
THE MISTAKE OF CONSIDERING COWARDICE A VIRTUE
CHAPTER SIX
FURTHER ADVICE ON HOW TO OBTAIN A DISTRUST OF ONESELF AND CONFIDENCE IN GOD
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE RIGHT USE OF OUR FACULTIES. THE UNDERSTANDING MUST FIRST BE FREE OF IGNORANCE AND CURIOSITY
CHAPTER EIGHT
AN OBSTACLE TO FORMING A CORRECT JUDGMENT. AN AID TO THE FORMATION OF A CORRECT JUDGMENT
CHAPTER NINE
ANOTHER METHOD TO PREVENT DECEPTION OF THE UNDERSTANDING
CHAPTER TEN
THE EXERCISE OF THE WILL. THE END TO WHICH ALL OF OUR ACTIONS, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, SHOULD BE DIRECTED
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SOME CONSIDERATIONS WHICH WILL INCLINE THE WILL TO SEEK ONLY WHAT IS PLEASING TO GOD
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE OPPOSITION WITHIN MAN’S TWOFOLD NATURE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
HOW WE ARE TO ENCOUNTER SENSUALITY. WHAT THE WILL MUST DO TO ACQUIRE VIRTUOUS HABITS
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
WHAT TO DO WHEN THE WILL IS APPARENTLY OVERPOWERED, AND UNABLE TO RESIST THE SENSUAL APPETITES
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
FURTHER ADVICE ON HOW TO FIGHT SKILLFULLY. THE ENEMIES WE ARE TO ENGAGE, AND THE COURAGE NECESSARY TO FIGHT THEM
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE SOLDIER OF CHRIST MUST PREPARE EARLY FOR THE BATTLE
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
THE METHOD OF FIGHTING YOUR PASSIONS AND VICES
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
HOW TO CURB THE SUDDEN IMPULSES OF YOUR PASSIONS
CHAPTER NINETEEN
HOW WE ARE TO FIGHT AGAINST IMPURITY
CHAPTER TWENTY
HOW TO COMBAT SLOTH
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
THE PROPER USE OF OUR SENSES. HOW THEY MAY HELP US TO CONTEMPLATE DIVINE THINGS
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
HOW SENSIBLE THINGS MAY AID US TO MEDITATE ON THE PASSION AND DEATH OF OUR SAVIOR
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
OTHER ADVANTAGEOUS USES OF THE SENSES IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
HOW TO GOVERN ONE’S SPEECH
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
THE SOLDIER OF CHRIST, RESOLVED TO FIGHT AND CONQUER HIS ENEMIES, MUST AVOID, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, ANYTHING THAT INTRUDES UPON HIS PEACE OF MIND
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
WHAT WE ARE TO DO WHEN WOUNDED
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
THE METHODS USED BY THE DEVIL TO TEMPT AND SEDUCE THOSE WHO DESIRE TO ACQUIRE VIRTUE, AND THOSE WHO ARE STILL THE PRISONERS OF VICE
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
THE CUNNING DEVICES USED BY THE DEVIL TO DESTROY COMPLETELY THOSE HE HAS ALREADY DRAWN INTO SIN
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
THE EFFORTS OF THE DEVIL TO PREVENT THE CONVERSION OF THOSE WHO, KNOWING THE DISEASED CHARACTER OF THEIR SOULS, DESIRE TO AMEND THEIR LIVES. THE REASON WHY THEIR GOOD INTENTIONS ARE FREQUENTLY INEFFECTUAL
CHAPTER THIRTY
CONCERNING THE DELUSIONS OF SOME WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES ON THE WAY TO PERFECTION
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CONCERNING THE ARTIFICES EMPLOYED BY THE DEVIL TO MAKE US FORSAKE THE VIRTUOUS LIFE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
THE LAST ARTIFICE OF THE DEVIL IN MAKING EVEN THE PRACTICE OF VIRTUE AN OCCASION OF SIN
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
SOME IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO MORTIFY THEIR PASSIONS AND ATTAIN THE NECESSARY VIRTUES
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
VIRTUES ARE TO BE ACQUIRED ONE AT A TIME AND BY DEGREES
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
THE MOST PROFITABLE MEANS OF ACQUIRING VIRTUE, AND THE MANNER IN WHICH WE APPLY OURSELVES TO A PARTICULAR VIRTUE FOR A TIME
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
THE PRACTICE OF VIRTUE REQUIRES CONSTANT APPLICATION
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CONCERNING THE NECESSITY OF SEIZING EAGERLY ALL OPPORTUNITIES OF PRACTICING VIRTUE SINCE OUR PROGRESS MUST BE CONSTANT
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
THE NECESSITY OF ESTEEMING ALL OPPORTUNITIES OF FIGHTING FOR THE ACQUISITION OF VIRTUES—ESPECIALLY THOSE VIRTUES WHICH PRESENT THE GREATEST DIFFICULTIES
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
THE MANNER IN WHICH WE MAY EXERCISE THE SAME VIRTUE ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS
CHAPTER FORTY
THE TIME TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE ACQUISITION OF EACH VIRTUE AND THE INDICATIONS OF OUR PROGRESS
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
THE NEED OF MODERATION IN THE DESIRE TO BE FREED OF THOSE EVILS PATIENTLY BORNE, AND THE MANNER IN WHICH OUR DESIRES ARE TO BE REGULATED
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
THE DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARTIFICES OF THE DEVIL WHEN HE SUGGESTS INDISCREET DEVOTIONS
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
THE TENDENCY OF OUR CORRUPT NATURES, PROMPTED BY THE DEVIL, TO INDULGE IN RASH JUDGMENT, AND THE REMEDY FOR THIS EVIL
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
PRAYER
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
MENTAL PRAYER
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
MEDITATION
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
ANOTHER METHOD OF MEDITATION
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
A METHOD OF PRAYER BASED ON THE INTERCESSION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
SOME CONSIDERATIONS TO INDUCE CONFIDENCE IN THE ASSISTANCE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN
CHAPTER FIFTY
A METHOD OF MEDITATION AND PRAYER INVOLVING THE INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS AND THE ANGELS
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
MEDITATION ON THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST AND THE SENTIMENTS TO BE DERIVED FROM CONTEMPLATION OF THEM
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM MEDITATIONS ON THE CROSS, AND THE IMITATION OF THE VIRTUE OF CHRIST CRUCIFIED
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CONCERNING THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
THE MANNER IN WHICH WE OUGHT TO RECEIVE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION, AND THE ROLE OF THE EUCHARIST IN EXCITING IN US A LOVE OF GOD
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
CONCERNING SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
CONCERNING THANKSGIVING
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
THE OFFERING OF SELF TO GOD
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
CONCERNING SENSIBLE DEVOTION AND DRYNESS
CHAPTER SIXTY
CONCERNING THE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
CONCERNING THE MANNER IN WHICH WE ARE TO PERSEVERE IN THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT UNTIL DEATH
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
CONCERNING OUR PREPARATION AGAINST THE ENEMIES WHO ASSAIL US AT THE HOUR OF DEATH
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
CONCERNING THE FOUR ASSAULTS OF THE ENEMY AT THE HOUR OF DEATH. THE FIRST ASSAULT AGAINST FAITH AND THE MANNER OF RESISTING IT
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
CONCERNING THE ASSAULT OF DESPAIR AND ITS REMEDY
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
CONCERNING TEMPTATION TO VAINGLORY
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
CONCERNING THE VARIOUS ILLUSIONS EMPLOYED BY THE DEVIL AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH
THOUGHTS ON DEATH
EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVES WE STAND ON THE BRINK OF ETERNITY. TWELVE ADVANTAGES TO BE DERIVED FROM THE CONTEMPLATION OF DEATH
THOUGHTS ON PENANCE
