Thought for the Day – 2 January – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom (Fr) Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)
For those times when our old Friend and Spiritual Guide, Antonio Cardinal Bacci’s works have been exhausted, we will start exploring the renowned Spiritual Combat. The intention is not to re-publish the book in its entirety but just to highlight areas of great value to most of us living in the world.
Today, I am posting the short introduction to the book.
Preface
“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” - 2 Tim 2: 5
“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 Lorenzo Scupoli (born Francesco) 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, [although this is doubtful, for the style remains the same throughout].
Whatever may be the truth 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 Francis de Sales called it.
It was “the favourite – 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 everyday, 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 natures which tend 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 espeically, this benighted age which has losts its appreciation for the kind of simplicity necessary for sanctity!”
AnaStpaul 
Thank you, Anna. I had never heard of this work and I’m grateful to you for this introduction .
Happy New Year.
Leslie S-P
London
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Dear Leslie – Happy New Year too and how lovely to meet you! I am always so happy to meet friends from the UK, having lived there for many years.
So glad you are looking forward to The Spiritual Combat and bless you for commenting. 🤗🙏
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Wonderful! I can’t wait! I have started “Divine Intimacy” at the beginning of Advent and also. “Ascent to Mount Carmel”. Can’t wait to add this to my daily read and meditation. Deo Gratias!
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Brilliant Stacy – you are so blessed to be able to BUY great Catholic Classics in the USA. We can buy nothing for it would have to be imported and we can’t afford that. But we have a lot inherited which I read, like you, in bite-sized chunks everyday.
Such riches!
🙏🙌
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Thank you Ana. Most of these classics are pdf files available online for free. Go to archive.org. Or Quies.org. I started reading Fr Scupoli and am really enjoying it. I would say, it has a very similar message as “Ascent”. How wonderful to have all these resources to help us in our spiritual journey. Deo Gratias.
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Hi again Stacy – You have forgotten that I cannot be online more than I am already each day. My eyes (both the OK one and the dead one) are seriously hurt by the PC and the very bad online prints. I struggle to read online enormously 😥 and for this reason I cannot read books online.
If they are few pages – booklets – I download and print out at a service provider in Town. I can then have the fonts enlarged too 🥳 Being half blind is my cross. Deo Gratias for this cross sweet Beloved Lord!
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Oh my dear Ana,
I understand completely. I don’t prefer reading online, but that is the option these days when you can’t get your hands on physical prints.
Prayers ascending for you always.
May our Good Lord bless us and our Lady of Success pray for us and keep us protected under Her Mantle.
💙💙
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Aah dearest Stacy and Phong your prayers strengthen me in the battle. I feel very close to you both – how wonderful is our great God in bringing souls together, especially in these so very horrid times in which we live.
My little prayers are always yours. May the Holy Family of Nazareth be with us very closely during this month 🙏🙏🙏🤗🤗
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Amen. Deo Gratias. 💙🙏💙
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Nice to see Fr. Lorenzo Scupoli being referenced – it’s a book that I’ve read bits of but have yet to finish. Hoping to see some highlights from it and get more out of it for a change – thank you!
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Hi there again dear Weeb – I read this sort of thing in daily doses to be able to ingest and meditate and perhaps recondition a little for our times although I tend to live in the past Century in every way.
I am glad you will be joining us in grabbing Dom Scupoli’s wisdom for our spiritual journey.
Blessed New Year to you and yours 🙌🙏
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I look forward to it indeed, as a refresher to what I’ve read! May you have a holy and blessed 2024 as well!
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🥳🤗
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@stacygle – MISSING YOU – How are you doing in these early days of Lent?
And are you being inspired, assisted and astonished (!) by our dear friend, Fr Scupoli and his Spiritual Combat?
May our loving Lord and His holy Mother bless both yourself and Phong abundantly, in your Lenten journey. 🙏🙏🤗🤗🧡🧡.
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