Customer Reviews

The Spiritual Life

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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.

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.

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.

Along with Coptic, Eastern and Russian Orthodox writings this work is a great aid to getting a more complete view of ascetic perspectives. Though I am more Waldensian, Old Order Baptist, and not a Roman Catholic, and do differ on doctrine, there are many things that make this work a worthwhile read. Additionally, I'm probably related to the author.

A Catholic priest recommended The Spiritual Life to me. The book is both a great guide to Christian Mysticism, and to the Catholic faith. The descriptions of the spiritual journeys of various saints described in the book are fascinating.

Clear, concise, very well-reasoned, thorough, systematic, easy-to-understand, great bibliographic cites, footnoted, authoritative without being pedantic -- LOVE IT. If you are a student of mystical theology (via St Teresa of Avila or St John of the Cross, for example) you MUST own this book. But even someone wishing to deepen and expand their faith and devotion would do well to read "The Spiritual Life". Particular attention is given to the qualities one should look for in a spiritual director, which nowadays is immensely helpful. CLASSIC.

I, too, consider Tanquery a "must have." My copy is falling apart, and I need to get a new one. The contents are dated, almost medieval, but I must have it. If read as a guide rather than as a set of rules that must be followed, The Spiritual Life is informative and useful. Avoid reading it the way "the spoiler" had to read it. If you use your God-given brain, you will find in Tanquery more than you ever thought there was to know about the journey we call the spirituL life. This is not simply a "must have" book; it is also a "must read" book, too. Let it inspire you on your own trek.

In a land far away and long ago I was required to read this. It was the early '60's and I was in novitiate in Ohio trying to get holy. (Those suspected of reading Pierre de Chardin had to pack their bags and head home in those pure days of orthodoxy.) Tanquery was part of the standard diet back then. I devoured it whole believing it really had something to say to a "celibate" guy in his early 20's seeking the Face of God and doing it all for Jesus. It was not until I began to write and teach in the area of spirituality that I was taken back to the book to examine it again nearly five decades later with children and grandchildren in my history. Yes, it is well researched in the great Sulpician manner and carefully presented. What's wrong with this picture?

I devoured it in the first place because I was raised Jansenist Catholic. The more self-inflicted punishment the better in that setting. The French, 19th century author echoes this theme throughout the book. It was a mirror of my childhood on steroids. No wonder I had "failed" the system. I hadn't punished myself enough. Religious life has a long history of propagating this mistaken sense of who we are and Whose we are.

If this book supports your sense of God's infinite love for human life in creation, seek the help of a spiritual director who will get you out of it. Please! The only people in the New Testament that Jesus seemed to have trouble with were religious because they laid a negative trip on people. It's a religious problem and not a religious virtue.