The Spiritual Life [Paperback]

Adolphe Tanquerey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2001

The Spiritual Life by Fr. Adolphe Tanquerey, S.S., D.D. Published in English in 1930. The Spritual Life has established a reputation as undoubtedly the finest, most comprehensive and best-respected one-volume treatise on the spiritual life ever written. Clear, thorough, easy to read, orthodox, authoritative, beautifully organized, logically developed, lively and practical, the book covers the whole field of spirituality. Based on Sacred Scripture, the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, especially St. Thomas Aquinas, as well as other great Saints and spiritual writers of all ages. In his own words, he covers "the teachings commonly received in the Church," with little space given to disputed questions. (Preface, page vii). His approach, moreover, is based on the solid judgment that dogma leads to devotion, that it is the foundation of ascetical theology, which naturally flows out of it. "The second part of the book contains a more detailed exposition of the special means of advancing along the Three Ways towards the heights of perfection." (Preface, page vii). The Spiritual Life was written primarily for priests and seminarians, but also for religious and the laity who "are seeking to live a thoroughly Christian life." This is a book that answers virtually every question about the spiritual life, a book that can easily be used as a text-book, a devotional treatise for spiritual reading, or a handy source book for researching specific subjects. It is so comprehensive and easy to read and use that it belongs in every Catholic's library. Containing 1,599 numbered sections, it covers every aspect of the spiritual life and is a book that explains each subject so well that it has been in steady demand since it first appeared. For the author "tells it like it is," straightforwardly, with no embellishment and in a trustworthy, common-sense style that engenders total confidence in his absolute mastery of this enti

Product Details

• Paperback: 771 pages
• Publisher: Tan Books; 2 edition (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895556596
• ISBN-13: 978-0895556592
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Catholicism > Roman Catholicism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have, February 23, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Spiritual Life (Paperback)

This book is simply a must have for the spiritual life. It is long but it is definately worth the read.

One reason this book is set above others is that it goes through all the doctrinal and dogmatic foundations of the spiritual life giving us the reasons why we should serve and love God. The author says himself that he doesn't think a work on the spiritual life should omit a review of what exactly God has done for us. Also placing himself on solid dogmatic grounds the author avoids falling into subjectivism or a undue focus on ourself. This is the first (and shortest) part of the book.

Secondly the author goes in depth to the three ways. That is, the purgative, the illuminative, and the unitive. He thoroughly treats all of them so you can get plenty of help in the one that you may happen to be in, but you will also learn to look forward to what may come. It is, of course, important to know what you are working towards in addition to knowing what to do in your present state.

The author treats just about everything imaginable in the spiritual life. He treats the gifts of the Holy Ghost, meditation, contemplation, perfection, interior graces, mystical phenomena, trials, the "dark nights", beginning the SL, advancing in virtue, Communion/confession, combatting the passions, growing in charity, and many other things.

The author bases his teaching mainly on Scripture, Saint Thomas, the so-called "french school" (Olier,Berulle,Eudes, etc,), Saint Theresa and Saint John of the Cross, and Saint Francis de Sales. Although he does quote many others and has a very wide knowledge of spiritual authors.

The author also maintains the traditional teaching on the spiritual life: that love of God is perfection. The modern era has made achieving various "mental states" as perfection. This is of course very wrong. This book will help you to grow in love for God. Whether you acieve any extraordinary gifts is God's decision. God's free gifts cannot be attained by any "technique".

Finally I would recommend this book because it not only only inflames your will with a desire to love God and serve Him as some books do, it also give real concrete steps to achieve this. God Bless.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spiritual Life, May 17, 2008

By 

L. Miller "Metroform" (Bear, Delaware) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spiritual Life (Paperback)

This used to be thee text for seminarians before Vatican II. It is the best assembly of information relative to the spiritual life one can imagine. Do I wish that it was returned to the seminaries and colleges of our Catholic heritage.

There are virtually no unchartered waters in this book relative to the spiritual life. Grab it, read it and apply it and you will see for yourself the treasure you have in your hands.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Spiritual guides ever written, October 9, 2007

By 

C. Little (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Spiritual Life (Paperback)

This book is a compilation of saintly progress that is unmatched
in variety and summation of the spiritual life. Anyone who reads
this book with an open heart will be changed for life.