| Introduction |
|
| The Nature of Ascetical Theology |
2 |
| Its Sources |
7 |
| Its Method |
12 |
| Its Excellence and Necessity |
18 |
| Division of Mystical and Ascetical Theology |
24 |
| PART FIRST: Principles |
|
| CHAPTER I: Origin of the Spiritual Life |
29 |
| I. THE NATURAL LIFE OF MAN |
29 |
| II. THE ELEVATION OF MAN TO THE SUPERNATURAL STATE |
32 |
| III. THE FALL AND ITS CONSEQUENCES |
35 |
| IV. THE REDEMPTION AND ITS EFFECTS |
39 |
| CHAPTER II: Nature of the Spiritual Life |
44 |
| I. THE ROLE OF GOD IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE |
46 |
| II. THE PART OF MAN IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE |
99 |
| CHAPTER III: The Perfection of the Christian Life |
153 |
| I. FALSE NOTIONS CONCERNING PERFECTION |
153 |
| II. TRUE NOTION OF PERFECTION |
156 |
| CHAPTER IV: The Duty of Tending to Perfection |
176 |
| I. THE DUTY INCUMBENT UPON ALL CHRISTIANS IN GENERAL TO TEND TOWARD PERFECTION |
176 |
| II. THE OBLIGATION INCUMBENT UPON RELIGIOUS OF TENDING TOWARD PERFECTION |
183 |
| III. THE OBLIGATION INCUMBENT UPON PRIESTS OF TENDING TO PERFECTION |
188 |
| CHAPTER V: General Means of Perfection |
203 |
| I. INTERIOR MEANS OF PERFECTION |
205 |
| II. EXTERIOR MEANS OF PERFECTION |
257 |
| PART SECOND: The three ways |
|
| The Distinction of the three ways |
297 |
| The Right Use ò thís Distinction |
301 |
| The Study of the three ways |
303 |
| BOOK ONE. The purification, of the soul, or, the purgative way. |
|
| Introduction |
|
| Those in the Purgative Way, or, Beginners |
305 |
| Work to be done in the Purgative Way |
308 |
| Division of this First Book |
309 |
| CHAPTER I. The prayer of beginners |
|
| I. NECESSITY AND CONDITIONS OF PRAYER |
310 |
| II. SPIRITUAL EXERCISES FOR BEGINNERS |
317 |
| III. THE MENTAL PRAYER OF BEGINNERS |
319 |
| CHAPTER II. Penance |
340 |
| I. MOTIVES FOR HATING AND AVOIDING SIN |
341 |
| II. MOTIVES AND MEANS OF ATONING FOR SIN |
354 |
| CHAPTER III. Mortification |
|
| I. NATURE OF MORTIFICATION |
362 |
| II. NEAD FOR MORTIFICATION |
364 |
| III. PRACTICE OF MORTIFICATION |
371 |
| CHAPTER IV. The struggle against capital sins and vices |
392 |
| I. PRIDE AND KINDRED VICES |
393 |
| II. SENSUALITY |
411 |
| III. AVARICE |
423 |
| CHAPTER V. Temptations |
427 |
| I. TEMPTATIONS IN GENERAL |
427 |
| II. CHIEF TEMPTATIONS OF BEGINNERS |
436 |
| BOOK TWO: Progress in Christian virtues, or, the illuminative way. |
|
| Introduction |
|
| Those in the illuminative way |
454 |
| Work to be done: to form Christ in us |
456 |
| Two classes of souls, the devout and the Fervent, in the illuminative way |
459 |
| Division of this second Book |
460 |
| CHAPTER I. Affective prayer |
461 |
| I. NATURE OF AFFECTIVE PRAYER |
461 |
| II. ADVANTAGES OF AFFECTIVE PRAYER |
464 |
| III. THE DANGERS OF AFFECTIVE PRAYER |
465 |
| IV. METHODS OF AFFECTIVE PRAYER |
467 |
| CHAPTER II. The moral virtues |
472 |
| I. PRUDENCE |
479 |
| II. JUSTICE |
488 |
| III. FORTITUDE |
506 |
| IV. TEMPERANCE |
517 |
| CHAPTER III. The theological virtues |
549 |
| I. FAITH |
550 |
| II. HOPE |
559 |
| III. CHARITY |
567 |
| CHAPTER IV. Counter-attacks of the enemy |
590 |
| I. THE RE-AWAKENING OF THE CAPITAL SINS |
590 |
| II. LUKEWARMNESS |
592 |
| BOOK THREE: The unitive way. |
|
| Introduction |
|
| The end to be attained |
601 |
| Characteristics of the unitive way |
602 |
| General notion of contemplation |
604 |
| Division of the third Book |
606 |
| CHAPTER I. The simple or active unitive way |
607 |
| I. THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST |
609 |
| II. THE PRAYER OF SIMPLICITY |
637 |
| CHAPTER II. Infused contemplation |
649 |
| I. INFUSED CONTEMPLATION IN GENERAL |
649 |
| II. THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF CONTEMPLATION |
666 |
| CHAPTER III. Extraordinary mystical phenomena |
700 |
| I. DIVINE PHENOMENA |
700 |
| II. DIABOLICAL PHENOMENA |
718 |
| CHAPTER IV. Controverted questions |
727 |