The Spiritual Combat [Paperback]

Dom Lorenzo Scupoli (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2009

A famous Catholic classic on the strategy for achieving spiritual perfection and salvation. Shows how to combat our passions and vices with an intelligent method in order to achieve a final victory. Also shows how to concentrate one's energies to make constant progress. One of the Church's all-time greatest books on the spiritual life and a favorite book of St. Francis de Sales. Impr.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lorenzo Scupoli (1530-1610) was born in southeastern Italy. He entered a religious order in 1569 and was ordained a priest soon thereafter. He was accused of breaking the religious rule in 1585 and consequently was arrested and deprived of his permission to administer the sacraments. He published the first edition of The Spiritual Combat in 1589. Scupoli was finally exculpated of the accusation against him shortly before his death.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: St. Benedict Press & TAN Books (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895554054
• ISBN-13: 978-0895554055
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Catholicism > Roman Catholicism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Catholic Classic of Spirituality, August 2, 2003

By 

FrDylan F James (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spiritual Combat (Paperback)

Along with The Inmitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, and Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis De Sales, this book ranks as one of the all time classics of Catholic spirituality (and De Sales preferred this book to the Imitation of Christ because of the practical detail to be found in the Spiritual Combat).
I first read this book when I was starting seminary and found it instantly readable and inspiring. Like the Imitation of Christ it consists of many short concise chapters that merit being read and pondered. I would particularly recommend the book to anyone struggling for perfection, and with scrupulosity. The opening 6 chapters give great insights into the whole nature of what Christian perfection means, and how our frequent lapses into sin should not discourage us, but should rather be taken as opportunities for us to grow in our confidence in God and our distrust of ourselves. This is a book to be re-read often through life.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from the Publisher, March 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Spiritual Combat (Paperback)

One of the all-time greatest and best-known classics on the strategy for achieving spiritual perfection and salvation. First published in 1589, it was the favorite book of St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), Doctor of the Church and master of the spiritual life. He carried a copy in his pocket for 18 years, read from it every day and recommended it to everyone under his direction. Based on the maxim that in the spiritual life one must either "fight or die," it shows how to combat one's passions and vices in order to arrive at victory. Explains how to acquire virtue and how to overcome impurity and sloth. Inspires and instructs today just as it has for 400 years. 240pp. PB. Imprimatur.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars fascinating insights into a Christian's stuggle for purity, June 17, 1998

By 

Cris Hernandez ([e-mail]) (Amissville, Va., USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Spiritual Combat (Paperback)

Very readible with many insights and practical "how to's" for a Christian's pursuit of spiritual growth. Being 500 years old, it also provides an historical background for more contemporary works, the absence of modern psychological jargon is refreshing. This version is theologically grounded in the Latin church and is the most literal translation. The Orthodox version from St. Vladimir's Press probably more suited to Protestant tastes, is loosly translated for content and embellished for a different school of thought, but tends to lose clarity in comparison. I suggest reading both versions concurrently. For Evangelicals, there are points for contention regardless, though neither invalidate the work's relavance for all Christians who strive after moral purity and virtue.