The Spiritual Combat and a Treatise on Peace of Soul
By Dom Lorenzo Scupoli · Published by TAN Books
Overview
You feel the pull of the world every day—the sudden flash of anger, the weight of sloth, or the nagging anxiety that steals your focus from God. The Spiritual Combat is the field manual you need to stop losing those daily battles and start reclaiming your soul for Christ. This timeless classic shows you exactly how to identify your weakest points and apply a winning strategy to overcome them. Combined with the Treatise on Peace of Soul, Dom Lorenzo Scupoli provides the concrete, step-by-step tactics required to root out vice while maintaining the deep, interior stillness of a soul at peace.
- Master Your Passions: Learn practical methods to curb sudden impulses like impurity, anger, and laziness before they lead to sin.
- Develop Ironclad Virtue: Follow a systematic plan to acquire the habits of holiness, focusing on winning one specific spiritual battle at a time.
- Eradicate Anxiety: Use the included "Treatise on Peace of Soul" to maintain a calm heart even in the midst of life's greatest trials.
- Pray with Purpose: Discover seven distinct ways to achieve the full benefits of prayer, even when you feel spiritually dry or distracted.
- Win the Morning: Implement a "morning mobilization" strategy to prepare your soul for the specific temptations you will face throughout the day.
From the Book
“The spiritual life consists in nothing else than the knowledge of the goodness and greatness of God, and of our own nothingness and inclination to all evil; in the love of God and the hatred of ourselves.”
— Dom Lorenzo Scupoli
Intended Audience
This book is for any Catholic who is tired of making the same mistakes in the confessional and is ready for a practical guide to holiness. It is particularly essential for fathers leading families, those struggling with persistent habits of vice, and anyone whose interior life is overwhelmed by modern stress.
FAQs
Is this book too advanced for a beginner?
Not at all. While it is a profound classic, Scupoli wrote it to be a practical manual. The chapters are short and focus on action rather than abstract theory.
Why is the "Treatise on Peace of Soul" included?
The Spiritual Combat teaches you how to fight, but the Treatise teaches you how to keep your heart still while doing so. They are the perfect pair: the sword and the shield.
How should I read this book for the best results?
St. Francis de Sales read from this book every single day. We recommend reading just one short chapter each morning to set your "battle plan" for the day.
Key Themes
- Spiritual Strategy: Approaching holiness with the discipline of a soldier.
- Self-Distrust & Confidence in God: Recognizing our weakness while leaning entirely on God’s strength.
- Interior Peace: Maintaining a "quiet center" as a defense against the devil's tactics.
- SKU:
- TC1115
- Pages:
- 268
- Publication Date:
- 4/1/2010
- Product Format:
- Paperbound
- Pdf:
- https://tanbooks.com/content/TheSpiritualCombatAndATreatisteOnPeaceOfSoul_Preview.pdf
- Height:
- 8.50
- Width:
- 5.50
11 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews
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Great for Men’s Group
After reading that St. Frances de Sales read it every day for 18 years, I gave it a shot. After that, I was so blown away that I had our Men’s Group read it. 12 men from our Parish read it and each one got so much out of it. It should be part of every Catholic’s reading list, especially Catholic men. Vices are combatted with virtues and Dom Scupoli’s use of military terminology truly hits home for those of us looking to be challenged. Tan’s translation is incredible. 100% recommend this for anyone looking to grow in virtue. The language is direct and not stilted, so it is not an intimidating read at all.
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Great spiritual tool
My book completely fell apart. So disappointing as I wanted to reread and then share it w others. Any way it could be replaced? I could send this one back so you could examine?
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The Spiritual Combat
This timeless work is even more needed in these dark, Satanic times. We humans are under constant attack, not just by "invisible powers," but by the entire so-called "culture," Sobriety and prayer may bring us back to a truly Christian life. Penance for ourselves and for our fellow beings is the Way of the Cross. Thank you, TAN Books, for keeping these spiritual classics available in the "post-modern" age of diabolic infestation! God bless you all!
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A Must Have
Absolutely Essential for all !!!
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I love it
Thank you
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One of the Greats!
If you enjoyed Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales, you'll absolutely love this book. It is similar in format. It gives excellent spiritual direction on how to root out sin and gain peace. Every Catholic should own this book.
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Spiritual combat
Would really like to find a pocket size one to carry around. Is there any chance there are some
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Excellent. Very clear and concise.
Excellent. Very clear and concise. An all time classic
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The Spiritual Combat and a Treatise on Peace of Soul
Excellent reading for meditation as you grow in your spiritual life.
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Amazing Book for Spiritual Guidance
What is there to say about this book that hasn;t been said? It's simply amazing, with wisdom brimming from every page. Although it is old, it is written in an accessible way for those who are not avid readers. The author had a very clear grasp on human nature, virtue, and vice. Each chapter is short (about a page or two per chapter) yet says so much about each topic in the book. If you are looking to grow in virtue at all, get over any vice, or just become a better Catholic, this book is essential and will not steer you wrong. A little bit of knowledge about Catholic theology will go a long way in really pulling all the material presented together, yet again it is not so much that the average man will be alienated by the topics presented, and if you want to refresh those basics on Catholic theology before reading you can easily brush up on these topics by watching Fr. Ripperger;s videos on YouTube before reading (or of course opening a copy of any of St. Thomas Aquinas; works, especially the Summa Theologica). However, the above point should not deter any person from reading this book, that point is only made for the person who wants to absolutely get the most they can out of this book, it is still very easily understandable and priceless wisdom for any person.
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Highly recommend
This is one of the best spiritual books I have ever read. I bought copies to give to Priests and Deacons I know. If you are serious about living your faith, I highly recommend!
