The Spiritual Combat is one of my favorite religious
works.
Its author, Lorenzo Scupoli, had immediate need of his own message. Shortly
before the time of its first publication, he was convicted in a religious
trial conducted by his own order. He was imprisoned for a time, and severely
sanctioned. Whatever the reason for the condemnation, Scupoli was not rehabilitated
until a few months before his death
twenty-five years later. Remarkably,
he remained a member of the order the entire time, and continued work on
the book.
God has rewarded his patience and humility.
The Spiritual Combat became
an enormously popular book over the centuries. It has even become popular
in non-Catholic circles: for example, a Greek Orthodox monk revised the book
and published his own version, called
Unseen
Warfare. The remarkable thing is that Scupoli's book does not strike
one as very well-organized, or at times even well-written. The author seems
to have assembled notes and letters from over the decades -- most clearly
from his time as a spiritual director of women religious. While the notes
themselves are clear, and somewhat succinct, at times the book becomes become
tedious or repetitive, then wanders off. Sentences ramble on, and ideas that
ought to go together are often separated by unrelated ideas. Perhaps that
is merely the style of the Italian of his time. All the same, the essence
of his message pierces whatever inadequacies plagued the messenger, and those
of the translator.
Like all books,
The Spiritual Combat was written in a particular cultural
context. It uses terminology and reflects attitudes that some people today
might find offensive. Readers who are not used to thinking while they read,
or to being generous to the intentions of the author, may have a hard time
with this book. In particular, the term "hatred of oneself" should not be
taken too literally. It has real meaning in the spiritual life, but it is
not akin to the hatred nursed by a person who wishes to end the life of another.
I have decided to compile this personal translation for myself. There appear
to be two English Translations from publishers.
One
is very scholarly and literal,
the
other uses old-fashioned language and is a little too free with its expressions
(how the opening
figluola -- lit., daughter -- becomes "Christian
soul!" is a mystery to me). I decided for my own personal hobby to read an
Italian version, and in the process translate it into the English that I
might use to convey the ideas. So, literalism has been sacrificed somewhat
in this version, although the ideas are entirely Scupoli's. Also, my translation
seems to me closer than that of the second one I mention above.
This series of web pages constitutes a work-in-progress. I translate a chapter
here & there in my spare time as a hobby -- after all, my job at NC State
is that of a mathematician, not a translator of religious works -- so if it
does not yet appear complete, that is for good reason.