The Spiritual Life: A Treatise On Ascetical And Mystical Theology

by Adolphe Tanquerey

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 Catholic's 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

Genres: Spirituality, Theology, Catholic, Religion, Christianity, Philosophy

818 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1924

About the author

A French Sulpician, Adolphe Tanquerey was a one-time teacher at Old St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. Tanquerey was best known by priests and seminarians of the middle part of this century for his three-volume synopses of dogmatic and moral theology. Abbreviated versions of these were affectionately known as “Baby Tanks.”

Reviews

[Tom Willis]

19th century textbook on spiritual theology for seminarians and priests, but still very useful for the layperson. The first 'half' of the book explains how grace works in the soul, while the second 'half' explains how the soul progresses in the spiritual life. I did not actually read the final section, on the unitative way; the illuminative way is, uh more than enough for me to be getting on with.

[Justine Olawsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first 600 pages of this book have completely revolutionized my understanding of Christian spirituality. It was the most complete, detailed, and helpful delineation first of the nature of the Christian life and then of the first two stages of Christian perfection that I have ever read and could ever imagine reading. Fr. Tanquerey is an excellent synthesizer of the great sages and practicers of ascetical and mystical theology - and he adds to the mix a wonderful pastoral spirit of his own that brings these complex and unwieldy ideas into concrete steps accessible to any pilgrim heart.

If you have wandered aimlessly all around the Interior Castle and felt lost in the shadows the Dark Nights, Tanquerey is here to help you understand the prayers, practices, pitfalls, and benchmarks of progression in Christian completeness. It is quite nice to have a handbook written by a Sulpician teacher rather than a Carmelite mystic.

The large bent and intended audience for this text seems to be priests and religious who would offer spiritual direction, and there are many helpful passages about how to assist one's penitent in progressing to the next stage. That said, there is plenty to be gleaned for the mere soul who seeks to draw closer to God. Tanquerey approaches spirituality with an alternating severity and warmth - a true shepherd who has every confidence his flock is going to make it back to the fold.

There was certainly an unsettling sense throughout that Tanquerey had a special laser pointed right at my own pet sins - my glibness, my tendency to sacrifice sincerity at the altar of wit, my joy in the fizzy and superficial. That's a sign of a Spirit-soaked tome, though, and I imagine everyone will find his favorite peccadillos skewered in turn.

Once Tanquerey proceeded into the Unitive Way, the book lost me for a bit. There is something strangely untoward about getting too surgical in such a state of spiritual union. It was rather off-putting to read this dissection - like analyzing a marriage from the outside. He got me right back into it with the section on Extraordinary Mystical Phenomena - who doesn't enjoy a foray into things like levitation, luminous emanations, and stigmata? - and the Diabolical type of such phenomena is always chilling to consider. Back into a big yawn with his brief section on Controverted Questions (the picayune differences between various orders' spiritualities), and then a heart-warming and invigorating Epilogue wherein he matches the stages of spiritual life to the liturgical calendar and then draws us close, close, close into the heart of prayer with Jesus and Mary.

Overall, a more than worthy book to explore - and one that belongs on the library shelf of anyone who is serious about growing in Christlikeness.

[booklady]

I hate like anything to set this aside, but I have enough to read with Sacred Scripture and my Carmelite books, so I shall have to return to this later. Thy will be done, LORD. The date abandoned is September 11, 2023.

[Christianclassics · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is 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. Solidly based on reason, the Sacred Scriptures, the Fathers, Doctors, Saints and eminent spiritual writers of the Church.

[Ona Kiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dense, but genius. Not only is his organization of theology and contemplative practice thorough, deep and broad; his references and footnotes provide a really great guide to further reading. It is a heavy book, and the microfilm version is a bit of a pain to read due to scanning errors, but if you can overlook that sort of thing...

This is a book I will re-read and use as a reference for years.

[Elizabeth Mcnally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impossible task to critique Tanquerey -- I should critique myself instead on how well I applied his teachings, which will be a life-long task. Tanquerey lays out theology very clearly, even for simple and untrained souls like mine. What can I say? Do you really want to find God? Are you ready to start the journey and bare your soul to Him, down to the very foundations? It's a humbling, purifying read, and totally transformative. Hopefully -- prayerfully -- I can apply what I learned.

[Jane Korvemaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very comprehensive. Takes a more technical approach, which is appreciated amidst so many spirituality books that sorely lack this.

[Gerard Migeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not for the beginner but an essential book for one who is looking for a practical and extensive guide to deepen the interior life.

[Erik]

Included in the "Spiritual Reading" section of Fr. John McCloskey's 100-book Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan.

[SuzanneG]

This is a great reference book for answers to all kinds of spiritual-life questions.

[Steve Gambino · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic for anyone interested in these sciences.