CONTENTS
THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT
Chap. page
I. In what Christian Perfection consists; and that the attainment of it involves a struggle, and of four things necessary for this conflict 1
II. Of Distrust of ourselves 8
III. Of Trust in God 12
IV. How we may know whether we are acting with self-distrust and Trust in God 15
V. Of the mistake of many, who hold Timidity for a Virtue 16
VI. Further advice as to obtaining this Distrust of self and Trust in God 17
VII. Of Spiritual Exercise; and first of the Exercise of the Understanding, which must be preserved from Ignorance and Curiosity 19
VIII. Of the Hindrances to a right Discernment of things, and of the course which we should take in order to Judge truly concerning them 21
IX. Of another thing from which the Understanding must be preserved in order to exercise a Right Judgment 24
X. Of the Exercise of the Will, and of the End to which all our Actions, both inward and outward, should be directed 27
XI. Of some Considerations which may induce the Will to seek in all things the Good Pleasure of God 33
XII. Of the divers Wills which are in Man, and of the Warfare between them 34
XIII. 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 38
XIV. What ought to be done when the higher Will seems to be wholly overcome and stifled by the lower Will, and by its Enemies 45
XV. Some Suggestions about the manner of Fighting; and especially against what Enemies, and with what Virtues, we should contend 48
XVI. In what way the Soldier of Christ should take the Field early in the Morning 51
XVII. Of the order to be observed in the Conflict with our Evil Passions 54
XVIII. Of the way to overcome Sudden Risings of the Passions 55
XIX. How to resist the Lusts of the Flesh 57
XX. Of the way to overcome Sloth 64
XXI. Of the Guard of the Outward Senses, and how from these we may pass to the Contemplation of the Divinity 70
XXII. 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 74
XXIII. Of other ways of Governing our Senses according to the different occasions which happen 77
XXIV. How to rule the Tongue 83
XXV. 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 86
XXVI. What we must do when we are Wounded 91
XXVII. Of the order which the Devil observes in his Assaults and Stratagems against those who give themselves to a Holy Life, and against those who are already found in the Bondage of Sin 94
XXVIII. Of the Assaults and Devices which the Devil employs against those who are held in the Bondage of Sin 95
XXIX. 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 96
XXX. Of the Delusion of those who imagine that they are going on to Perfection 99
XXXI. Of the Devil's Deceits and Struggles to draw us away from the Path of Perfection 101
XXXII. Of the last above-named Assault and Stratagem, whereby the Devil tries to make the Virtues we have acquired the Occasions of our Ruin 106
XXXIII. Of certain Suggestions for overcoming our evil Passions, and gaining new Virtues 115
XXXIV. That Virtues are to be gained by degrees; by Exercising ourselves in their gradual formation, and that our Attention must first be given to one step, and then to another 119
XXXV. 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 121
XXXVI. That in the Exercise of Virtue we must continually Advance with Diligence 124
XXXVII. 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 126
XXXVIII. That we ought to regard as precious every Opportunity which is afforded to us for the Acquisition of Virtues; and chiefly those which present the greatest Difficulties 138
XXXIX. How to avail ourselves of the various Occasions which present themselves for the Exercise of a single Virtue 131
XL. Of the length of time to be given to the Exercise of each particular Virtue, and of the marks of Spiritual Advancement 133
XLI. 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 136
XLII. How to resist the Devil, when he tries to ensnare us by an indiscreet Zeal 138
XLIII. 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 141
XLIV. Of Prayer 144
XLV. What is Mental Prayer 150
XLVI. Of Meditation 152
XLVII. Of another mode of Praying by way of Meditation 154
XLVIII. Of a mode of Praying by means of the Blessed Virgin Mary 155
XLIX. Of certain Considerations as to Faith and Confidence in the Prayers of the Virgin Mary 157
L. Of a way of Meditating and Praying by means of the Angels and of all the Blessed 159
LI. Of Meditation on the Passion of Christ, in order to excite various Affections 161
LII. Of the Advantages which may be derived from Meditation on the Crucifixion of our Lord, and of the Imitation of His Virtues 168
LIII, Of the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist 174
LIV. Of the way we ought to Receive the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist 175
LV. How wc ought to Prepare ourselves for Communion in order to excite within us Love 179
LVI. Of Spiritual Communion 188
LVII. Of returning Thanks 190
LVIII. Of Oblation 191
LIX. Of Sensible Devotion and of Dryness 195
LX. Of the Examination of Conscience 201
LXI. How in this Battle we have need of continuing the Struggle even unto Death 202
LXII. How to prepare ourselves against the Enemies who assault us when we are Dying 204
LXIII. 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 206
LXIV. Of the Assault of Despair, and of its Remedy 207
LXV. Of the Assault of Vain-glory 209
LXVI. Of the Assault of Illusions and false Appearances at the Point of Death 210
SUPPLEMENT TO THE SPIRITUAL COMBAT
I. What is the Nature of Christian Perfection 215
II. Of the Necessity of a Conflict in order to gain Christum Perfection 216
III. Of Three Things which are needful for the Young Soldier of Christ 216
IV. Of Resistance and Violence, and of the Art of using them 217
V. That we have need to Watch continually over our Will, so as to discover the particular Passion to which it inclines 219
VI. How by removing the first Passion, which is Love of the Creature and of Self, and by giving it to God, all the rest will be well regulated and ordered 220
VII. That the Human Will stands in need of Succour 222
VIII. How the Will of Man is greatly strengthened by overcoming the World 223
IX. Of the Second Help to the Will 225
X. Of Temptations to Spiritual Pride 227
XI. Of the Third Help of the Human Will 228
XII. In what Way a Man may gain the Habit of keeping in the Presence of God, whenever he will 229
XIII. Some Advice about Prayer 231
XIV. Of another way of Praying 233
XV. Of the Fourth Help of the Human Will 233
XVI. Of Meditation on the Being of God 234
XVII. Of Meditation on the Power of God 235
XVIII. Of Meditation on the Wisdom of God 236
XIX. Of Meditation on the Goodness of God 237
XX. Of Meditation on the Beauty of God 237
XXI. What God has done for Man, and with what love; and what He would further do for him, if needful 238
XXII. What God does every Day for Man 239
XXIII. How great is the Goodness of our God in waiting for and bearing with the Sinner 239
XXIV. What God will do in another Life, not only for him who has always served Him, but also for the converted Sinner 240
XXV. Of the Fifth Help of the Human Will 242
XXVI. In what Way Self-love may be discovered 243
XXVII. Of the Sixth Help 246
XXVIII. Of Sacramental Communion 248
XXIX. Of Sacramental Confession 249
XXX. How to overcome the Impure Passion 251
XXXI. How many things should be avoided, so as not to fall into the Vice of Impurity 253
XXXII. What we should do when we have fallen into this Sin of Impurity 254
XXXIII. Of some Motives which should lead the Sinner to turn to God without delay 255
XXXIV. How to obtain the Gift of Tears for our Offences against God, and Conversion 258
XXXV. Of some Reasons why Men live without Weeping for their Offences against God, without Virtues, and without Christian Perfection 260
XXXVI. Of Love towards Enemies 263
XXXVII. Of Examination of Conscience 265
XXXVIII. Of Two Rules for Living in Peace 267
OF INTERIOR PEACE, OR THE PATH TO PARADISE
I. What is the Nature of our Heart, and how it ought to be Governed 271
II. Of the Care we should have to preserve a Peaceful Spirit 272
III. How this Building of Inward Peace must be gradually constructed 274
IV How the Sotd must refuse all Consolations, for this is true Humility and poverty of Spirit, by which Interior Peace is acquired 275
V. How the Soul should keep herself in a state of inward Solitude, that God may work within her 278
VI. Of the Prudence which we ought to exercise in the Love of our Neighbour, so as not to disturb this Peace 280
VII. How the Soul, despoiled of its own Will, must present itself before God 283
VIII. Of the Faith we should have in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and how we should offer ourselves unto the Lord 287
IX. That we ought not to seek Pleasures, nor the Things which gratify our Tastes; but God Alone 288
X. That the Servant of God must not be discouraged, though he feel within himself some Repugnance and Disquiet as to this Peace 290
XI. Of the Diligence which the Devil employs to disturb this Peace, and how we ought to guard ourselves against his Devices 292
XII. That the Soul ought not to disquiet itself on account of Inward Trials 296
XIII. That Temptations are sent us by God for our good 298
XIV. Of the Remedy which we ought to use, so as not to be disquieted under Faults and Infirmities 303
XV. How the Soul, without loss of Time, should recover Calmness, and make Progress 306

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