The Spiritual Combat
The complete main work in sixty-six chapters. The separately titled Supplement and Path of Paradise printed with this edition are not included. The historical text has been transcribed by Wikisource volunteers.
Anonymous English translation from the Italian, published by Rivingtons in 1875.
Rivingtons, 1875 · historical English translation
Contents
- 1. In what Christian Perfection consists; and that the attainment of it involves a struggle, and of four things necessary for this conflict
- 2. Of Distrust of Ourselves
- 3. Of Trust in God
- 4. How we may know whether we are acting with Self-Distrust and Trust in God
- 5. Of the mistake of many, who hold Timidity for a Virtue
- 6. Further advice as to obtaining this Distrust of Self and Trust in God
- 7. Of Spiritual Exercise; and first of the Exercise of the Understanding, which must be preserved from Ignorance and Curiosity
- 8. Of the Hindrances to a right Discernment of Things, and of the course which we should take in order to Judge truly concerning them
- 9. Of another Thing from which the Understanding must he preserved in order to exercise a Right Judgment
- 10. Of the Exercise of the Will, and of the End to which all our Actions, both inward and outward, should be directed
- 11. Of some Considerations which may induce the Will to seek in all things the Good Pleasure of God
- 12. Of the many Wills which are in Man, and of the Warfare between them
- 13. Of the way to resist the Sensual Impulses, and of the Acts to be performed by the Will, in order to acquire habits of Virtue
- 14. What ought to be done when the higher Will seems to be wholly overcome and stifled by the lower Will, and by its Enemies."
- 15. Some Suggestions about the manner of Fighting; and especially against what Enemies, and with what Virtues, we should contend
- 16. In what way the Soldier of Christ should take the Field early in the Morning
- 17. Of the Order to be observed in the Conflict with our Evil Passions
- 18. Of the way to overcome Sudden Risings of the Passions
- 19. How to resist the Lusts of the Flesh
- 20. Of the Way to overcome Sloth
- 21. Of the Guard of the Outward Senses, and how from these we may pass to the Contemplation of the Divinity
- 22. How the same Things may offer us opportunities of regulating our Senses by passing on to Meditation on the Incarnate Word in the Mysteries of His Life and Passion
- 23. Of other ways of Governing our Senses according to the different occasions which happen
- 24. How to Rule the Tongue
- 25. That the Soldier of Christ, if he would be successful against his Enemies, must, as far as possible, lay aside all Agitation and Anxiety of Mind
- 26. What we must do when we are Wounded
- 27. Of the Order which the Devil observes in his Assaults and Stratagems against those who give themselves to a Holy Life, and those who are already found in the Bondage of Sin
- 28. Of the Assaults and Devices which the Devil employs against those who are held in the Bondage of Sin
- 29. Of the Wiles and Delusions by which the Devil Holds captive those who are conscious of their Misery, and desire to be free; and how it is our Resolutions are so often fruitless
- 30. Of the Delusion of those who imagine that they are going on to Perfection
- 31. Of the Devil's Deceits and Struggles to draw us away from the Path of Perfection
- 32. Of the last above-named Assault and Stratagem, whereby the Devil tries to make the Virtues we have acquired the Occasions of our Ruin
- 33. Of certain Suggestions for overcoming our Evil Passions, and gaining new Virtues
- 34. That Virtues are to be gained by degrees, by Erercising ourselves in their gradual formation, and that our Attention must first be given to one step, and then to another
- 35. Of the Means by which Virtues are acquired, and of the Way we should Use them, allowing some space of Time to one Virtue only
- 36. That in the Exercise of Virtue we must continually Advance with Diligence
- 37. That as we must always continue in the Exercise of the Virtues, so we must not shun any Opportunity which offers itself for their Attainment
- 38. That we ought to regard as precious every Opportunity which is afforded to us for the Acquisition of Virtues; any chiefly those which present the greatest Difficulties
- 39. How to avail ourselves of the various Occasions which present themselves for the Exercise of a single Virtue
- 40. Of the length of time to be given to the Exercise of each particular Virtue, and of the marks of Spiritual Advancement
- 41. That we must not yield to the wish to be rid of the Trials which we are bearing patiently; and how we should rule all our Desires so as to grow in Holiness
- 42. How to resist the Devil when he tries to ensnare us by an indiscreet Zeal
- 43. Of the Power of our Evil Inclinations, and of the Way the Devil tempts us to form rash Judgments of our Neighbour, and how to resist him
- 44. Of Prayer
- 45. What is Mental Prayer
- 46. Of Meditation
- 47. Of another Way of Praying by Way of Meditation
- 48. Of a Way of Praying by means of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 49. Of certain Considerations as to Faith and Confidence in the Prayers of the Virgin Mary
- 50. Of a Way of Meditating and Praying by means of the Angels and all the Blessed
- 51. Of Meditation on the Passion of Christ, with a view to excite various Affections
- 52. Of the 'Advantages which may be derived from Meditation on the Crucifirion of our Lord, and of the Imitation of His Virtues
- 53. Of the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist
- 54. Of the Way we ought to Receive the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist
- 55. How we ought to Prepare ourselves for Communion in order to excite within us Love
- 56. Of Spiritual Communion
- 57. Of returning Thanks
- 58. Of Oblation
- 59. Of Sensible Devotion and of Dryness
- 60. Of the Examination of Conscience
- 61. How in this Battle we have need of continuing the Struggle even unto Death
- 62. How to prepare ourselves against the Enemies who assault us when we are Dying
- 63. Of Four Assaults of our Enemies at the time of Dying; and first of the Assault upon Faith, and of the Manner of defending ourselves
- 64. Of the Assault of Despair, and of its Remedy
- 65. Of the Assault of Vain-glory
- 66. Of the Assault of Illusions and False Appearances at the point of Death