The Foundations of the Spiritual Life

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The saintly exorcist and Lallemant, S.J., student [Fr. Jean-Joseph Surin, S.J.](https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14343b.htm) voluntarily ransomed the demons of the Loudun Ursuline convent in exchange for himself being oppressed for two decades; the last years of his life were peaceful, and his physician testified it was a miracle. DjVu p. 73 ff. (pp. lxii ff.) are excerpts on him from the *Biographie Universelle*. He describes the marvels at the Loudun convent: "Why has He given poor maidens, despised and abandoned by the world, so signal a victory over the powers of darkness?" CONTENTS. BOOK I. Chapter I. — To walk inwardly with God, and not to be kept abroad by any outward affection, is the state of a spiritual man. B. ii. c. 6 1 Chapter II. — If thou attain to the full contempt of thyself, know that thou shalt then enjoy abundance of peace. B. iii. c. 25 6 Chapter III. — All things are comprised in these few words : Forsake all, and thou shalt find all. B. iii. c. 32. 14 Chapter IV. — The more thou withdrawest thyself from solace of creatures, the more will I heap upon thee spiritual joys. Book iii. c. 12 19 Chapter V. — Rejoice to be thought guilty, that you may be innocent in the sight of God 26 Chapter VI. — Set thyself always in the lowest place, and the highest shall be given thee. B. ii. c. 10 32 Chapter VII. — I cause all devout persons to pass through severe trials 37 Chapter VIII. — It is matter of great skill to know to hold converse with Jesus ; and to know how to keep Jesus, a point of great wisdom. B. ii. c. 8. 43 Chapter IX. — A certain person, by loving Me entirely, learned divine things, and spake that which was admirable. He profited more by forsaking all things, than in studying subtleties. Book iii. c. 43. 48 BOOK II. Chapter I. — Learn to despise outward things, and to give thyself to things inward, and thou shalt perceive the kingdom of God to come in thee. B. ii. c. 1 52 Chapter II. — He that judgeth of all things as they are, and not as they are said, or esteemed to be, is truly wise, and taught rather of God than men. B. ii. c. 1 57 Chapter III. — The more holy violence thou usest against thyself, the greater shall be thy spiritual profiting. B. i. c.25 62 Chapter IV. — Presume not upon thyself. B. i. c. 7 67 Chapter V. — False freedom of mind, and great confidence in ourselves, are very contrary to heavenly visitations. B. ii. c. 10 71 Chapter VI. — In whatever instance a person seeketh himself, then he falleth from love. B. iii. c. 6 77 Chapter VII. — Simplicity doth tend towards God; Purity doth apprehend and, as it were, taste Him. B. ii. c. 4 82 Chapter VIII. — He that can best tell how to suffer, will best keep himself in peace. B. ii. c. 7 88 Chapter IX. — What is not savoury unto him, to whom Thou art pleasing ? B. iii. c. 34 93 BOOK III. Chapter I. — Wheresoever thou findest thyself, renounce thyself 98 Chapter II. — It is, therefore, no small matter for a man to forsake himself even in the smallest things. B. iii. c. 39 101 Chapter III. — That I may not feel myself. B. iii. c. 21. 104 Chapter IV. — If thou wouldst perfectly empty thyself from all creatures, Jesus would willingly dwell with thee. B. ii. c. 7 107 Chapter V. — Where shall one be found who is willing to serve God for nought ? B. ii. c. 2 111 Chapter VI. — If thou seekest thyself, thou shalt also find thyself. B. ii. c. 7 115 Chapter VII. — If thou dost more rely upon thine own reason or industry, than upon that power which brings thee under the obedience of Jesus Christ, it will be long before thou become illuminated. B. i. c. 14 119 Chapter VIII. — A true lover of Christ, and a diligent! follower of virtue, does not fall back on comforts, nor seek such sensible sweetnesses. B. ii. c. 9 124 Chapter IX. — O happy minds and blessed souls, who have the privilege of receiving Thee, their Lord God, with devout affection, and in so receiving Thee are permitted to be full of spiritual joy! O how great a Lord do they entertain! how beloved a Guest do they harbour! how delightful a Companion do they receive! how faithful a Friend do they welcome! how lovely and noble a Spouse do they embrace. B. iv. c. 3. 127 BOOK IV. Chapter I. — For a long while shall he be small, and lie grovelling below, whoever he be, that esteemeth any thing great but the One only Infinite Eternal Good. B. iii. c. 31 134 Chapter II. — If thou dost walk spiritually, thou wilt not much weigh fleeting words. B. iii. c. 28 139 Chapter III. — For that is the cause why there are so few contemplative men to be found, for that few can wholly withdraw themselves from things created and perishing. B. iii. c. 31 143 Chapter IV. — As to be void of all desire of external things produceth inward peace, so the forsaking of ourselves inwardly, joineth us unto God. B. iii. c. 56 147 Chapter V. — He that loveth with all his heart, is neither afraid of death, nor punishment, nor of judgment, nor of hell. B. i. c. 24 153 Chapter VI. — Give all for all ; seek nothing ; require back nothing ; abide purely and with a firm confidence in Me, and thou shalt possess Me. B. iii. c. 37 158 Chapter VII. — He to whom the Eternal Word speaketh, is delivered from a world of unnecessary conceptions. B. i. c. 3 162 Chapter VIII. — If it were well with thee, and thou wert well purified from sin, all things would fall out to thee for good, and to thy advancement in holiness. B. ii. c. 1. 166 Chapter IX. — A perfect contempt of the world, will give us great confidence we shall die happily. B. 1. c. 23. 169 BOOK V. Chapter I. — Desire to be unknown. B. 1. c. 2 174 Chapter II. — From that One Word are all things, and all speak that One. B. i. c. 3 177 Chapter III. — Thou oughtest to give all for all, and to retain nothing of thyself. B. iii. c. 27 179 Chapter IV. — The more thou canst go out of thyself, so much the more wilt thou be able to enter into Me. B. iii. c. 66 181 Chapter V. — He that endeavours to withdraw himself from obedience, withdraweth himself from Grace ; and he who seeketh for himself private benefits, loseth those which are common. B. iii. c. 13. 184 Chapter VI — There is great difference between the wisdom of an illuminated and devout man, and the knowledge of a learned and studious clerk. B. iii. c. 31 188 Chapter VII. — If thou hadst but once perfectly entered into the secrets of the Lord Jesus, and tasted a little of His ardent love, &c. Bookii. c. 1 191 Chapter VIII. — Drink of the Lord's cup heartily. As for comforts, leave them to God. B. ii. c. 12 194 Chapter IX. — God will have us perfectly subject unto Him, that being inflamed with his love, we may transcend the narrow limits of human reason. B. i. c. 14. 197 Chapter X. — He is truly learned, that doeth the will of God. B. i. c. 14 201 OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE WHOLE SPIRITUAL LIFE, WHICH IS HUMILITY. Chapter XI. — A man's worthiness is not to be estimated by the number of visions and comforts which he may have, or by his skill in the Scriptures, or by his being placed in a higher station than others ; but the proof is, if he be grounded in true humility. B. iii. c. 7 207 OF THE PERFECT USE OF FAITH. Chapter XII. — Endeavour to withdraw thy heart from the love of visible things, and to turn thyself to the invisible. B. i c. 1 213 OF THE REMEMBRANCE OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD. Chapter XIII. — If thou canst not contemplate high and heavenly things, rest thyself in the passion of Christ, and dwell willingly in His sacred wounds. B. ii. c. 1. 217 OF THE GOOD THINGS, FOR WHICH THOSE WHO EMBRACE VIRTUE MAY HOPE IN THIS LIFE. Chapter XIV. — Great grace shall be given to those who shall have willingly subjected themselves to Thy most holy service. They who for thy love shall have renounced all carnal delights, shall find the sweetest consolations of the Holy Ghost. B. iii. c. 10 220 A spiritual letter to a lady of rank 227 Digitized by Google. Preface signed: E.B.P