The Spiritual Combat

The Spiritual Combat - together with The Supplement and The Path of Paradise - by Lorenzo Scupoli

The Spiritual Combat by Lorenzo Scupoli is a practical guide to the spiritual life, with a message centered on humility, and a goal to defeat individual passions. The author begins the process with self-evaluation and identifying our internal weaknesses. He then provides us with the methods to battle these shortcomings and guard against our own evil inclinations.

In 1589, the first edition of Il combattimento spirituale (The Spiritual Combat) appeared and contained thirty-three chapters. But Scupoli continued to add to the text, and it gradually grew into the current version containing sixty-six chapters. Since its introduction, four centuries ago, approximately six hundred editions have been published globally.

This edition, from Scriptoria books, is an authentic reproduction of the Rivingtons' translation from their Library of Spiritual Works. It contains the complete original text of The Spiritual Combat, and also includes two additional writings by Scupoli, The Supplement and The Path to Paradise, which further address and deal with our imperfect nature.

Scriptoria Books has transcribed this edition word for word from the original text. It was then edited, formatted, typeset, and proofread through each revision. Our procedures are not automated. Our editions are not facsimiles and do not contain OCR interpreted text. Our books are carefully created new editions of classic works.