Unseen Warfare: The Spiritual Combat and Path to Paradise of Lorenzo Scupoli

Rating:
Summary: chapters on prayer especially useful
Review: All I would add to the previous reviews is that I found the chapters on prayer - largely the work of St. Theophan rather than Scupoli - to be especially useful. His approach to prayer is the classical approach of the Eastern Church. These chapters alone are worth the price of the book and justify chosing the Orthodox rewrite over the original.

Rating:
Summary: chapters on prayer especially useful
Review: All I would add to the previous reviews is that I found the chapters on prayer - largely the work of St. Theophan rather than Scupoli - to be especially useful. His approach to prayer is the classical approach of the Eastern Church. These chapters alone are worth the price of the book and justify chosing the Orthodox rewrite over the original.

Rating:
Summary: many practical how to's for pursuing spiritual growth
Review: the Roman Catholic version from Tan Books is the more literal translation, and the wording more direct, however, this the Orthodox text is more of an interpretive rewrite containing many insightful embellishments that are certainly worth digesting. The 60 page introduction, though longer than necessary, provides background information that heightens one's appreciation of this 500 year old classic. For Protestants, this is the version I recommend, but if one can't read and think , then bypass this book entirely. To truly appreciate the work, I suggest reading both a chapter at a time simultaneously, which can easily be done in 2 months if used as a daily reader. The chapters are short (1-5 pages) and limited to single topics. Many people preach what others should do, this tells how. Must reading if spiritual growth, to grow in virtue and moral purity in the presence of our Lord, is your desire.

Rating:
Summary: Great first read
Review: This book will set you on the path to God, if you so desire. It dispells with a lot of the myths and answers the important questions that most folks need answered but don't even know to ask. For example: What is the goal of the spiritual life?

Rating:
Summary: A classic of Christian spirituality
Review: This story of this text begins in 16th century Italy, when Lorenzo Scupoli wrote "The Spiritual Combat". Interestingly, the book arose from a series of letters to an "unknown sister in Christ" (the original text contains many female pronouns) on the spiritual life. The theme of spiritual combat is certainly present throughout the text, but Scupoli sees this battle as being won by not relying on self or trusting oneself but by confidence in God. Establishing this foundation first, he continues with advice on overcoming vices and the snares of the devil, growing in virtue, prayer and meditation, and practical advice on a few other topics. His words show great wisdom and spiritual depth, and the success of the book (600 editions in the four centuries since his death) is well deserved. One of the places it ended up was in the Greek monasteries of Mt. Athos, where Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain translated it with some editorial changes to make it more suitable to Orthodox readers. He added Scripture texts as well. It was this version that came into the hands of a Russian, Theophan the Recluse, who translated it into Russian with even more substantive changes ( the Jesus Prayer, quotes from the Fathers) that left some chapters entirely reworked, although others retain the wording of Scupoli's original. This work became an Orthodox classic in its own right, and which is here published under the title "Unseen Warfare". It is marked by a profound wisdom of its own, and both Scupoli's text and this one are the sort of work that can provide spiritual meat for those who are willing to read and re-read them, chewing on their spiritual themes. I have found it an excellent meditation for growing in Christian character and building strong faith. I hope it helps you too! (Scupoli's work, by the way, can be found with an introduction in the book "Theatine Spirituality: Selected Writings" which is part of the Classics of Western Spirituality series put out by Paulist Press--perhaps readers not inclined to the Orthodoxy in "Unseen Warfare" would prefer the original Roman Catholic work).

Rating:
Summary: A classic of Christian spirituality
Review: This story of this text begins in 16th century Italy, when Lorenzo Scupoli wrote "The Spiritual Combat". Interestingly, the book arose from a series of letters to an "unknown sister in Christ" (the original text contains many female pronouns) on the spiritual life. The theme of spiritual combat is certainly present throughout the text, but Scupoli sees this battle as being won by not relying on self or trusting oneself but by confidence in God. Establishing this foundation first, he continues with advice on overcoming vices and the snares of the devil, growing in virtue, prayer and meditation, and practical advice on a few other topics. His words show great wisdom and spiritual depth, and the success of the book (600 editions in the four centuries since his death) is well deserved. One of the places it ended up was in the Greek monasteries of Mt. Athos, where Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain translated it with some editorial changes to make it more suitable to Orthodox readers. He added Scripture texts as well. It was this version that came into the hands of a Russian, Theophan the Recluse, who translated it into Russian with even more substantive changes ( the Jesus Prayer, quotes from the Fathers) that left some chapters entirely reworked, although others retain the wording of Scupoli's original. This work became an Orthodox classic in its own right, and which is here published under the title "Unseen Warfare". It is marked by a profound wisdom of its own, and both Scupoli's text and this one are the sort of work that can provide spiritual meat for those who are willing to read and re-read them, chewing on their spiritual themes. I have found it an excellent meditation for growing in Christian character and building strong faith. I hope it helps you too! (Scupoli's work, by the way, can be found with an introduction in the book "Theatine Spirituality: Selected Writings" which is part of the Classics of Western Spirituality series put out by Paulist Press--perhaps readers not inclined to the Orthodoxy in "Unseen Warfare" would prefer the original Roman Catholic work).

Rating:
Summary: A classic of Christian spirituality
Review: This story of this text begins in 16th century Italy, when Lorenzo Scupoli wrote "The Spiritual Combat". Interestingly, the book arose from a series of letters to an "unknown sister in Christ" (the original text contains many female pronouns) on the spiritual life. The theme of spiritual combat is certainly present throughout the text, but Scupoli sees this battle as being won by not relying on self or trusting oneself but by confidence in God. Establishing this foundation first, he continues with advice on overcoming vices and the snares of the devil, growing in virtue, prayer and meditation, and practical advice on a few other topics. His words show great wisdom and spiritual depth, and the success of the book (600 editions in the four centuries since his death) is well deserved. One of the places it ended up was in the Greek monasteries of Mt. Athos, where Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain translated it with some editorial changes to make it more suitable to Orthodox readers. He added Scripture texts as well. It was this version that came into the hands of a Russian, Theophan the Recluse, who translated it into Russian with even more substantive changes ( the Jesus Prayer, quotes from the Fathers) that left some chapters entirely reworked, although others retain the wording of Scupoli's original. This work became an Orthodox classic in its own right, and which is here published under the title "Unseen Warfare". It is marked by a profound wisdom of its own, and both Scupoli's text and this one are the sort of work that can provide spiritual meat for those who are willing to read and re-read them, chewing on their spiritual themes. I have found it an excellent meditation for growing in Christian character and building strong faith. I hope it helps you too! (Scupoli's work, by the way, can be found with an introduction in the book "Theatine Spirituality: Selected Writings" which is part of the Classics of Western Spirituality series put out by Paulist Press--perhaps readers not inclined to the Orthodoxy in "Unseen Warfare" would prefer the original Roman Catholic work).

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