The Priest's Studies (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ...of the Spiritual Combat in preference to the Imitation may seem strange. Faber was, of course, perfectly familiar with both. I suppose he had in his mind that the Spiritual Combat was of a more technical and scientific character, and so was more suitable for his present purpose. It would be impertinent to add any words of commendation to what Faber says. There is an excellent translation, published by Burns & Oates, containing other short treatises of the same devout writer, Lorenzo Scupoli (1530-1610). Rodriguez on Christian Perfection is known to all. The Esprit de S. Francois de Sales is of course only a compilation. Two volumes of his Letters (to Persons in the World and to Persons in Religion) have been translated by Dom Benedict Mackay, who has also brought out a magnificent edition of the saint's entire works in French. Practical Piety seems to have gone out of print; I cannot find it in Burns' catalogue. The same must be said of the School of St. Philip. Perhaps this announcement of the high value which Faber set upon these two little books may give them a new life. "IV. For the rarer questions on direction and for the intellectual part of the spiritual life, Surin's books; and especially the Guide and the Dialogues. But they are disheartening books. Of Guillore, except his Conduite des Ames, I should dread the study. His language is loose; he wrote before Quietism was condemned." "V. For a general view of mental prayer and its concomitants, Nouet's Conduite." "VI. For the practical part of mental prayer, Courbon's Instructions, and Thomas of Jesus' De Oratione Spirituals For mortification, Scaramelli's Direttorio Ascetico. For discernment of spirits, Cardinal Bona, and Scaramelli's Discernimento (his best work)...