Spiritual Combat: How to Win Your Spiritual Battles and Attain Peace

Like most spiritual classics, this book is best read slowly and in small portions at a time and then repeatedly over a substantial period of time. I tried reading it at first in one sitting and nearly got bowled over with spiritual indigestion! It is aptly described as a manual which methodically lays out strategic steps and guidelines for battling temptations and casting out one's inner demons. There are three main ideas:1. Distrust yourself2. Trust God3. Various methods of overcoming temptations and winning spiritual battles.This book confronts the deceitfulness of our fallen human nature and the endless justifications we are capable of generating to cover up our faults. Like a powerful microscope, it searches out our hidden faults and calls us to cultivate humility and trust God to change us. He organizes his materials under several spiritual exercises such as prayer, celebrating the Eucharist, governing our hearts, persevering through trials, yielding to God and cultivating inner peace.Some counsels are so radical I think they are suited for 'spiritual commandos'. I nibble at the hem of this book's wisdom and hope to master the basics. The effects have been immensely humbling. It is no wonder that St Francis de Sales kept it with him for so many years. It is the sort of book that is so deep in wisdom and practical in scope one needs a lifetime to ruminate over it and let it turn us right side up.

At first I did not want this book - my unfinished stack was too big, but ultimately I had to see what St. Francis de Sales carried with him for 18 years, you know, if it worked for him...I think this is some good ammunition for the spiritual soldier, sort of a spiritual combat basic training manual. I could open it to just about any page and find a clear, simple instruction to work on for the day, e.g., always get the commanding officer's orders first, as Scupoli says "...do not bring yourself to will something until you have first lifted your thoughts to God, to ascertain whether it is His will...".This book is full of helpful strategies for anyone fighting to attain Christian perfection. Very easy to read. Glad I got it.

This book is a gem for those who are walking the path of spirituality and becoming aware of the need to let God lead them in their life. It is a an eye opener and an insightful way of understanding one's own limitations and fallen nature whilst giving practical ways of avoiding temptation .I would highly recommend this book to those who are in a journey of realization and are humble enough to accept that we are creatures of sin who need redemption and God's grace. It also provides practical steps on how to avoid temptations and move forward in the spiritual life as well as trust fully in God.

This is a a very good book if you want to grow spiritually. Unfortunately, it arrived wet in the bottom left side of the book. The amazon package was wet and damaged the book. I am giving it 5 stars for the content not so for the delivery.

This book, even just half way through, has been amazing. At over 400 years old, it still reads like new. This man is amazing, great Catholic teaching on fighting spiritual ailments, temptation, and not just what to do, but how to do it.The whole time i read the book I felt like he was speaking directly to me.. it was eerie. Everything applied to things going on in my life and events I faced, or thought about.This book will be a special one for you, I know it, and don't hesitate any more to get it. Buy it used, new, just get it.

I wish I'd known about this great book years ago. The tactics for waging spiritual combat are needed so very much! Great tool for spiritual directors.

Absolutely one of the most powerful spiritual books of our time. It is enlightening, clear, and real. Every sentence and word makes an impact on the modern day reader as much as it would have touched the reader of the age. Surely, if the reader holds this book close, they too may find his or herself on the path to sanctity, like St. Francis de Sales did-- who carried it with him for 22 years. -- It is a timeless classic.

To hitchhike on what a previous reviewer has written, the spiritual insights contained in this book cannot be adequately digested by reading it in one, two or even three sittings. It is best read in little chunks and then contemplated upon. I can understand why the Saint carried it for 18 years. This is one of those rare books that can be read over and over again and each time it is read a different valuable insight is revealed.

Going against the general consensus, I have to say that I didn't appreciate this book at all and didn't even get to the end. The Kindle version contains many typos which is incredibly annoying and the content itself is unstimulating. Have read far better spiritual books than this.For your reference, I'm Catholic.

Great book to have in one's life, seeking peace and true happiness