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.
Chapter 1: Preliminary Words on Perfection
Chapter 2 : Distrust of Self
Chapter 3 : Of Trust in God
Chapter 4 : How to Discover Whether We Distrust Ourselves and Place Our Confidence in God
Chapter 5 : The Mistake if Considering of Cowardice a Virtue
Chapter 6 : Further Advice on How To Obtain A Distrust Of Oneself And Confidence in God
Chapter 7 : The Right Use of Our Faculties. The Understanding Must First Be Free of Ignorance and Curiosity
CHAPTER 8 : An Obstacle To Forming A Correct Judgment . An Aid To The Formation Of A Correct Judgment
CHAPTER 9 : Another Method TO Prevent Deception Of The Understanding
CHAPTER 10: The Exercise Of The Will. The End To Which All Of Our Actions, Interior And Exterior, Should Be Directed
Chapter 11: Some Considerations Which Will Incline The Will To Seek Only What Is Pleasing To God
Chapter 12 : The Opposition Within Man's Twofold Nature
Chapter 13 : How We Are To Encounter Sensuality. What The Will Must Do To Acquire Virtuous Habits
Chapter 14 : What To Do When The Will Is Apparently Overpowered, And Unable To Resist The Sensual Appetites
Chapter 15 : Further Advice On How To Fight Skillfully. The Enemies We Are To Engage, And The Courage Necessary To Fight
Them
Chapter 16: The Soldier Of Christ Must Prepare Early For The Battle
Chapter 17 : The Method Of Fighting Your Passions And Vices
Chapter 18 : How to Curb The Sudden Impulses Of Your Passions
Chapter 19 : How we Are To Fight Against Impurity
Chapter 20 : How To Combat Sloth
Chapter 21 : The Proper Use Of Our Senses. How They May Help Us To Contemplate Divine Things
Chapter 22: How Sensible Things May Aid Us To Meditate On The Passion And Death Of Our Savior
Chapter 23: Other Advantageous Uses Of The Senses In Different situations.
Chapter 24: How To Govern One's Speech
Chapter 25: 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 26 : What We Are To Do when Wounded
Chapter 27: 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 28: The Cunning Devices Used By The Devil To Destroy Completely Those He Has Already Drawn Into Sin.
Chapter 29: 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 30 : Concerning The delusions Of Some Who Consider Themselves On The Way To Perfection.
Chapter 31: Concerning The Artifices Employed By The Devil To Make Us Forsake The Virtuous Life.
Chapter 32 : The Last Artifice Of The Devil In Making Even The Practice Of Virtue An Occasion Of Sin.
Chapter 33: Some Important Instructions For Those Who Wish To Mortify Their Passions And Attain The Necessary Virtues.
Chapter 34: Virtues Are To Be Acquired One At A Time By Degrees
Chapter 35: 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 37: Concerning The Necessity of Seizing All Opportunities of Practicing Virtue Since Our Progress Must Be Constant.
Chapter 38: The Necessity of Esteeming All Opportunities of Fighting For The Acquisition of Virtues-Especially Those Virtues
Which Present The Greatest Difficulties.
Chapter 39: The Manner In Which We May Exercise The Same Virtue On Different Occasions.
Chapter 40: The Time To Be Employed In The Acquisition Of Each Virtue And The Indications Of Our Progress.
Chapter 41: The Needs 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 42: The Defense Against The artifices Of The Devil When He Suggests Indiscreet Devotions.
Chapter 43: The Tendency Of Our Corrupt Natures, Prompted By The Devil, To Indulge In Rash Judgment, And The Remedy
For This Evil.
Chapter 44: Prayer
Chapter 45: Mental Prayer
Chapter 46: Meditation
Chapter 47: Another Method of Meditation
Chapter 48: A Method Of Prayer Based On The Intercession Of The Blessed Virgin.
Chapter 49: Some Considerations To Induce Confidence In The Assistance Of The Blessed Virgin.
Chapter 50: A Method of Meditation and Prayer Involving The Intercession Of The Saints and The Angels.
Chapter 51: Meditation On The Sufferings Of Christ And The sentiments To Be Derived From Contemplation Of Them.
Chapter 52: The Benefits Derived From The Meditations On The Cross, And The Imitation Of The Virtue Of Christ Crucified.
Chapter 53: Concerning The Most Holy Sacrament Of The Eucharist.
Chapter 54: The Manner In Which We Ought To Receive The Blessed Sacrament.
Chapter 55: Preparation For Communion, And The Role Of The Eucharist In Exciting In Us a Love Of God.
Chapter 56: Concerning Spiritual Communion.
Chapter 57: Concerning Thanksgiving.
Chapter 58: The Offering Of Self To God.
Chapter 59: Concerning Sensible Devotion And Dryness.
Chapter 60: Concerning The Examination Of Conscience.
Chapter 61: Concerning The Manner In Which we Are To Persevere In The Spiritual Combat Until Death.
Chapter 62: concerning Our Preparation Against The Enemies Who Assail Us At The Hour Of Death.
Chapter 63: Concerning The Four Assaults Of The Enemy At The Hour Of Death. The First assault Against Faith And The
Manner Of Resisting It
Chapter 64: Concerning The Assault Of Despair And Its Remedy.
Chapter 65: Concerning Temptation To Vainglory.
Chapter 66: Concerning The Various Illusions Employed By The Devil At The Hour Of Our Death.
Thoughts On Death
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