«If we have lost peace of heart, we must do everything possible to regain it; there can be no reason in the world that should reasonably take it away or disturb it». (From chapter XXV of Spiritual Combat)

«There are masterpieces that lie in museums or libraries and are objects of admiration only for “insiders”, for a select few capable of “reading” their history, their era, and their message. Father Lorenzo Scupoli’s Spiritual Combat risks becoming one of those books from the past, or one of those rare antiques deemed “untouchable” and “unreadable” by new generations. 
Personally, I consider Scupoli’s masterpiece a book of extraordinary relevance, a book that delves into the depths of the human person and encourages his best potential; however, it must be given the opportunity to “speak”. 
This is what Father Vincenzo Cosenza wrote. 

The book by the distinguished Theatine Father Vincenzo Scupoli (c. 1530–1610) is truly a precious treasure, rich in suggestions for fighting the «good fight» and preserving the faith. It contains recommendations for acquiring distrust of ourselves and confidence in God, guidance on how to fight against the senses and what must be done to acquire the habit of virtue; it suggests how to react to the sudden impulses of the passions, how to combat negligence, what we must do when we are wounded, and how to control the tongue; it also contains warnings about the deceptions used by the devil to induce us to abandon the path that leads to virtue. 
The work presents a spiritual combat that does not require spectacular heroism; it is “content” to practise ordinary virtues.
Father Vincenzo Cosenza’s meticulous version in modern Italian restores the book’s incredible relevance.

Editions of Spiritual Combat have never ceased to be published since the year of its first edition in Venice. That was 1589. Whoever picks it up now joins the ranks of its countless readers.
Among the first readers we encounter Saint Francis de Sales, who, encouraging a lady to read spiritual books, says: «Read and reread the Spiritual Combat: this must be your treasured book;… it is clear and entirely practical». 

Happy reading!