The Spiritual Life: A Treatise On Ascetical And Mystical Theology

The Spiritual Life by Fr. Adolphe Tanquerey S.S. D.D. Published in English in 1930. The Spritual Life has established a reputation as undoubtedly the finest most comprehensive and best-respected one-volume treatise on the spiritual life ever written. Clear thorough easy to read orthodox authoritative beautifully organized logically developed lively and practical the book covers the whole field of spirituality. Based on Sacred Scripture the Fathers and Doctors of the Church especially St. Thomas Aquinas as well as other great Saints and spiritual writers of all ages. In his own words he covers "the teachings commonly received in the Church " with little space given to disputed questions. (Preface page vii). His approach moreover is based on the solid judgment that dogma leads to devotion that it is the foundation of ascetical theology which naturally flows out of it. "The second part of the book contains a more detailed exposition of the special means of advancing along the Three Ways towards the heights of perfection." (Preface page vii). The Spiritual Life was written primarily for priests and seminarians but also for religious and the laity who "are seeking to live a thoroughly Christian life." This is a book that answers virtually every question about the spiritual life a book that can easily be used as a text-book a devotional treatise for spiritual reading or a handy source book for researching specific subjects. It is so comprehensive and easy to read and use that it belongs in every Catholics library. Containing 1 599 numbered sections it covers every aspect of the spiritual life and is a book that explains each subject so well that it has been in steady demand since it first appeared. For the author "tells it like it is " straightforwardly with no embellishment and in a trustworthy common-sense style that engenders total confidence in his absolute mastery of this enti