The Spiritual Combat and a Treatise on Peace of Soul

By: Dom Lorenzo Scupoli

Narrated by: Kevin O'Brien

Salvation and spiritual perfection should not be sought haphazardly; a strategy is needed to win the battle for our souls.

The Spiritual Combat, first published in 1589, provides timeless guidance in spiritual discipline. St. Francis de Sales (1576-1622) read from it himself every day and recommended it to everyone under his direction.

Vigorous, realistic, and full of keen insight into human nature, The Spiritual Combat consists of short chapters based on the maxim that in the spiritual life one must either "fight or die". Fr. Scupoli shows the Christian how to combat his passions and vices, especially impurity and sloth, in order to arrive at victory.

Public Domain (P)2020 TAN Books

Timeless weapons for the interior battle

The Spiritual Combat and A Treatise on Peace of Soul by Lorenzo Scupoli is not light devotional reading—it is serious training for the soul.

For Catholics who understand that the spiritual life is warfare, this book is a treasure. Written in the 16th century and beloved by saints (including St. Francis de Sales), The Spiritual Combat lays out the interior struggle with startling clarity. It exposes the subtle ways pride, self-reliance, and disordered attachments sabotage our pursuit of holiness. It teaches distrust of self, radical trust in God, disciplined prayer, and steady perseverance in virtue.

From a traditional Catholic perspective, what makes this work so powerful is its sobriety. There is no sentimentality here. No vague spirituality. Scupoli speaks plainly: the Christian life is a battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Victory does not come through emotional highs but through humility, vigilance, mortification, and frequent recourse to the sacraments.

The companion work, A Treatise on Peace of Soul, beautifully balances the intensity of the combat. It reminds us that true peace is not the absence of struggle but the fruit of surrender to Divine Providence. When trials come—and they will—the soul anchored in God remains steady. Peace is found not in control, but in trust.

In a culture that preaches self-esteem and comfort, this book preaches self-denial and sanctity. And paradoxically, it leads to deeper joy. It teaches that holiness is not reserved for mystics, but demanded of every Catholic who desires Heaven.

This is not a book you read once and shelve. It is a manual you return to again and again. For any serious Catholic striving for virtue, discipline, and interior freedom, this is essential.

Excellent book and narration.

Powerful book and excellent narration. This book is a challenging read, the narration helps to overcome the challenges of understanding.

A classic

I enjoyed this book. Lots of references to scripture, but the recommendations are practical enough to not seem overly abstract.

Who needs to be told about this awesome book?

You won’t be sorry buying and listening to this book. It is life changing. This book treats the spiritual life truthfully, faithfully and practically