Therapy of Spiritual Illnesses

by Jean-Claude Larchet

A vast synthesis of patristic and ascetic oriental teachings from the 1st to 14th centuries, this study presents a renewed vision of the Christian doctrine of salvation and constitutes a veritable treaty, both theoretical and practical, of spiritual psychology and medicine, as well as a summation of Orthodox spirituality that has had no equivalent until now.

Jean-Claude Larchet is an Orthodox patrologist and theologian. Holding doctorates in Humanities, Theology and Philosophy from the Université de Strasbourg, Dr Larchet, one of the foremost contemporary Patristics scholars, studies the relevance of the Fathers to questions of health, sickness, and healing today, and is one of the leading scholars of St Maximus the Confessor. Dr Larchet’s works include the companion volumes to the present work: Mental Disorders and Spiritual Healing (Sophia Perennis) and Theology of Illness (SVS Press). His writings have been translated into twelve languages. It is said of him that “he is one of the very few authors of our time who is able seamlessly to combine rigorous scholarship with a vibrant sense of the inner life of the Church”.

Volume One (268 pages)
Part One: Anthropological Premises; Original Health and the Origin of Illnesses
1. Man's Original Health
2. The First Origin of Illnesses: The Ancestral Sin
3. Pathology of Fallen Man

Part Two: Symtomatology and Pathogenesis of Spiritual Diseases: The Passions
1. The Passions: Spiritual Illnesses
2. Self-Love
3. Gluttony
4. Lust
5. Love of Money; Greed
6. Sadness
7. Acedia
8. Anger
9. Fear
10. Vainglory
11. Pride
12. Transmission of Spiritual Illnesses in Fallen Humanity

Volume Two (274 pages)
Part Three: General Conditions of Therapy
1. Christ the Physician
2. Sacramental Therapies
3. The Subjective Conditions for Healing and Health
4. The Process of Healing: Inner Conversion
Part Four: The Implementation of Therapy
1. The Twofold Movement of Inner Conversion
2. Outline of the Therapy of the Fundamental Faculties of the Soul
3. There Therapeutic Role of the Spiritual Father
4. The Manifestation of Thoughts
5. The Fight Against Thoughts
6. Adjuvant Therapy: Bodily Asceticism

Volume Three (261 pages)
Part Five: The Therapy of Passions and the Acquisition of Virtues
1. Therapy of Gluttony
2. Therapy of Lust
3. Therapy of Love of Money; Greed
4. Therapy of Sadness
5. Therapy of Acedia
6. Therapy of Anger
7. Therapy of Fear
8. Therapy of Vainglory and Pride

Part Six: Health Restored
1. Impassibility
2. Charity
3. Knowledge

Conclusion

Genres: Religion, Theology, Christian, Psychology, Catholic, Mental Health, Spirituality

830 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Jean-Claude Larchet, né le 9 août 1949 à Badonviller (Meurthe-et-Moselle), est un patrologue et théologien orthodoxe français.

Auteur de nombreux ouvrages publiés aux éditions du Cerf et traduits dans dix-neuf langues, il est notamment spécialiste de Maxime le Confesseur.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely amazing work. I think if there were a manual (after Holy Scripture of course) for Orthodoxy given after chrismation this would be a great choice. Larchet synthesizes the works of the Church Fathers, distilling their writings into their essence and collecting two millenia of wisdom and experience into a very accessible three volumes.

From start to finish I was absolutely fascinated. I forced myself to slow down to help absorb, but I am sure I will be coming back to these again. Larchet starts with defining 'the fall' from an Orthodox perspective and moves immediately into a very nice description of each of the passions as understood and taught by the Fathers. He moves then into specific 'therapies' for each passion and the life of the Christian as a whole, and then proceeds even to describe what it means to be fully healed (as much as we can be in this life).

We in the Orthodox Church have two thousand years of literature and copious amounts of writings to pore over, and while that's appealing to those who enjoy reading and have the patience to sort through them all (especially when they seem at first glance to be contradictory to each other) this collection will be a welcome addition to their library. For that matter, even if you love digging through the last two thousand years worth of literature, you'll love these books just because they help put all of those writings in perspective.

The only downside (aside from the rather steep 100 dollar price tag) is the downside we always see when we are trying to put this type of thing in writing, or in words. What does it mean to be a true and healthy human being? How do you describe it? What words are there that can properly convey the literally unspeakable mysteries of God? There really are none. We can try, but there are some things that just can't be described.

Oh, not the process (how we're broken and the therapies we must undergo, to use the medical terminology of these books) itself, or the passions. We can talk all day and do a fine job describing what anger is and where it comes from, etc. But the ultimate end goal of health which is theosis and living fully in Christ can perhaps be approximately described, but not fully. It's easy to say we live in Christ, but the fullest expression of that I think is not something we can sensibly talk about. It has to be experienced.

Nonetheless, these volumes make a very good attempt and are the best distillation of the writings of the Fathers I've seen so far. We can never boil down theosis and the process of salvation to bullet points and a step by step manual, but if I was pressed to do so this is how I would want it to look.

This is an excellent work and is highly recommended for everyone.

[Lieutenant · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important compendium about the spiritual life, that shows the timeless nature of these teachings. It is the kind of reading that will come with immediate practicality because it will affect the one who reads it for the better, because it will make the reader have a comprehension of who they are and they will know themselves better.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best presentation EVER of Orthodox theology/spirituality

see my review here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2014/12/20/r...

and more about it here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2014/12/20/r...

[Om3n · Rating 5 out of 5]

O carte monumentala care devanseaza cu mult pe psihologii moderni prin pluritatea planurilor pe care le abordeaza, in materie de patologic si tatament, cat si indentificare si prevenire. O

[Ionut Tudor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book.

[Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memiorist Frederick Buechner wrote concerning books that "There are two kinds of really good books - the first you devour as quickly as possible - marathon reads... The second you savour, slowly nibbling and sipping at the edges, stopping and pondering." Larchet's falls squarely in the second kind of good book. I'm sure there is nothing close to a book like this in the English language. Each word, each paragraph, each page and chapter point to and nudge one towards the cross of our Lord, the healing therapy of the Great Physician. I'm slowly making my way through it. Work has picked up for me, so It's taking longer than I'd planned, but this is one worth persevering in.

[Miruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very straightforward, written in the spirit of the Fathers and Mothers, with simplicity, but also insightful. It is based on examples in the life of the saints which have been very well selected. I would have loved a more detailed account of akedia, the focus of the last part was on fools for Christ, which, as the author explains, is not a spiritual illness itself. But the few pages on anxiety, depression, and the like are enlightening

[Ghemot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este cea mai frumoasă carte de teologie pură pe care am citit-o!!!

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

:)