Spiritual Combat By Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

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Spiritual Combat
By Dom Lorenzo Scupoli
Taken from this PDF

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Preface

1. Preliminary Words On Perfection
2. Concerning Distrust Of Self
3. Confidence In God
4. How To Discover If We Distrust Ourselves And Place Confidence In God
5. Mistake Of Considering Cowardice A Virtue
6. Further Advice To Acquire Confidence In God
7. The Right Use Of Our Faculties
8. An Obstacle To Forming A Correct Judgment
9. Another Method To Prevent Deception Of The Understanding
10. Exercise Of The Will
11. Some Considerations To Incline The Will To Seek Pleasing God Only
12. The Opposition Within Man's Twofold Nature
13. How We Are To Encounter Sensuality
14. What To Do When The Will Is Apparently Overpowered
15. Further Advice On How To Fight Skillfully
16. The Soldier Of Christ Must Prepare Early For Battle
17. The Method Of Fighting Your Passions And Vices
18. How To Curb The Sudden Impulses Of Your Passions
19. How We Are To Fight Against Impurity
20. How To Combat Sloth
21. The Proper Use Of Our Senses To Contemplate Divine Things
22. How Sensible May Aid Us To Meditate On The Passion Of Christ
23. Other Dangerous Uses Of The Senses In Different Situations
24. How To Govern One's Speech
25. The Soldier Of Christ Must Avoid That Which Intrudes Upon Peace Of Mind
26. What We Are To Do When Wounded
27. The Methods Used By The Devil To Seduce Those Who Desire To Acquire Virtue
28. The Devil's Cunning Devices
29. The Efforts Of The Devil To Prevent Conversion
30. Concerning The Delusions Of Some Who Consider Themselves Being Perfected
31. Concerning The Artifices Of The Devil To Make Us Forsake The Virtuous Life
32. The Last Artifice Of The Devil In Making Even The Practice Of Virtue An Occasion Of Sin
33. Some Important Instructions For Those Who Wish To Mortify Themselves
34. Virtues Are To Be Acquired One At A Time And By Degrees
35. The Most Profitable Means Of Acquiring Virtue, And The Manner In Which We Apply Ourselves To A Particular Virtue For A Time
36. The Practice Of Virtue Requires Constant Application
37. Concerning The Necessity Of Seizing Eagerly All Opportunities Of Practicing Virtue
38. The Necessity Of Esteemimg All Opportunities Of Fighting For The Acquisition Of Virtue
39. The Manner In Which We May Exercise The Same Virtue On Different Occasions
40. The Time To Be Employed In The Acquisition Of Each Virtue And Indications Of Progress
41. 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 
42. The Defense Against The Artifices Of The Devil When He Suggests Indiscreet Devotions
43. The Tendency Of Our Corrupt Natures, Prompted By The Devil, To Indulge In Rash Judgment, And The Remedy For This Evil
44. Prayer
45. Mental Prayer
46. Meditation
47. Another Method Of Meditation
48. Prayer Based On The Intercession Of The Blessed Virgin
49. Some Considerations To Induce Confidence In The Assistance Of The Blessed Virgin
50. A Method Of Meditation And Prayer Involving The Intercession Of The Saints And The Angels
51. Meditation On The Sufferings Of Christ
52. The Benefits Derived From Meditations On The Cross And The Imitation Of The Virtue Of Christ Crucified
53. Concerning The Most Holy Sacrament Of The Eucharist
54. The Manner In Which We Ought To Receive Holy Communion
55. Preparation For Holy Communion, And The Role Of The Eucharist In Exciting In Us A Love Of God
56. Concerning Spiritual Communion
57. Concerning Thanksgiving
58. The Offering Of Self To God
59. Concerning Sensible Devotion And Dryness
60. Concerning The Examination Of Conscience
61. Concerning The Manner In Which We Are To Persevere In The Spiritual Combat Until Death
62. Concerning Our Preparation Against The Enemies Who Assail Us At The Hour Of Death
63. Concerning The Four Assaults Of The Enemy At The Hour Of Death-----The First Assault Against Faith And The Manner Of Resisting It
64. Concerning The Assault Of Despair And Its Remedy
65. Concerning Temptation To Vainglory
66. Concerning The Various Illusions Employed By The Devil At The Hour Of Our Death



I. PREFACE

The Spiritual Combat is known as one of the greatest classics in ascetic theology, along with The Imitation of Christ. In both cases the authors are shrouded in mystery. Several 17th century editions were published under the name of the Spanish Benedictine, John of Castanzia. Some writers of the Society of Jesus have ascribed the book to the Jesuit, Achilles Gagliardi, but most critics however consider Fr. Lawrence Scupoli as the author of this famous treatise. The first known edition was published in Venice in 1589 and contained but 24 chapters; later editions appeared with more chapters, so it is possible that the Theatines or another religious order may have been part of the composition. Whatever may be the solution of the problem of the author, doubt of the actual one or ones, can take nothing away from the value and efficacy of this "golden book" as St. Frances de Sales called it. It was "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. 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.

The author was a genius, the kind that can only be inspired by the grace of God and his book is a Catholic treasure and one of the greatest gifts God could have given any age, but most especially this benighted age which has lost its appreciation for the kind of simplicity necessary for sanctity.