Christian Self-Mastery: How to Govern Your Thoughts, Discipline Your Will, and Achieve Balance in Your Spiritual Life

by Basil W. Maturin

This is the book you need for those times in your life when even your most strenuous efforts to follow Christ end in frustration. Christian Self-Mastery explains why following Him can be so difficult and how you can start now to make progress even in the most vexing areas of your life. Author Fr. Basil W. Maturin insists that no matter how hard you're trying now, you can have a better relationship with God and greater self-mastery if you follow his simple steps to getting your passions in check and improving your knowledge of your own motives, desires, and fears. Fr. Maturin emphasizes the crucial role that self-discipline plays in your spiritual life and gives you solid ways you can distinguish it from counterfeits and avoid common mistakes people make when they try to change their habits and live for God. This extraordinary book will help you in myriad ways to rise above your limitations and truly meet God! Start on the way to true self-mastery as you

Genres: Catholic, Christianity, Spirituality, Religion, Self Help, Christian

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2001

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It should be noted at the onset that this book is reprint of Self-Knowledge and Self-Discipline published in 1909. And this edition is both revised and abridged. Having compared both and read both now I can state that I do not notice anything lost through this process. The biggest advantage of this edition is the formatting, especially of the eBook version, and also slight modernization of the text where needed. There are a number of versions of this book available as either physical books or eBooks, but they are all available under the original title.

The chapter titles in this edition are:
1. Develop self-knowledge
2. Discipline yourself
3. Abide by the laws of the spirit
4. Train your will
5. Control your thoughts
6. Strive for balance
7. Govern your body
8. Sacrifice the good for what is better
9. Persevere
Biographical Note: Basil W. Maturin

The Chapters in the original edition are:
Self-Knowledge
The Principle of Self-Discipline
The Seat of Conflict
The Discipline if the Will
The Discipline of the Mind
The Discipline of the Affections
The Discipline of the Body
Mortification and the Supernatural Life
The Law A Preparation for the Revelation of Love

I was first attracted to this book based on the title. Growth in discipline has been a goal of mine for a number of years, and to be honest not just spiritually but also physically and mentally. And this book touches on all three areas of life; mind, body and spirit. This book was written in a very different time than our own. And because of that many people will chafe at how rigorous the teaching is. Being honest Catholics and all Christians could use a little more looking back at where we came from and using the examples to find a renewed focus and discipline for today. And in reading this book I have discovered how much work I still need to do. Especially in the area of patience. Basil states “We are often scarcely conscious of this until we wake up to find that we have lost control of ourselves — that one after another of our senses and faculties (our “members,” as St. Paul calls them) refuses to obey us and is living its own separate life; more than that, that they often make factions and combine to dethrone conscience and place some base passion, it may be, to rule its place. There is a well-organized revolution taking place, so quiet that conscience is scarcely alarmed until it finds its power is well-nigh gone.”.

This book was a great read. And I can highly recommend it. But only read it if you are willing to be challenged and willing to strive to make changes and to grow. If that describes you this book can be a tool for your spiritual growth.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.

(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)

[J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book stays true to its cover title, I have taken notes on this book, it is very organized book. The author does the splendid job of organizing each chapter with sub-sections that effortlessly transition one thought into the other to complete each chapter. The wisdom contained in each section is wonderfully insightful.

For the past year I had been dealing with doubts in my own relationship with Christ, and the things He had shown me, but this book did a great job to help me re-affirm some insights that I doubted in. I highly recommend this book and taking notes, you'll come back to this book especially when you feel disoriented and confused this book will do a stellar job at reorienting the reader to Christ.

The book is about Christian Self-Mastery, its not an isolated "self-help" book, but points to the humanism of Christ and how in being with him we can aspire to be more ourselves. We master ourselves by the help of God's Grace, in a manner that is both mature and liberating. Again, a very easy to read, succinct, and highly re-readable book.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book

I don’t know why but I seem to be drawn to spiritual writers who converted from Anglicanism. Father Maturin is no exception. His writing has a way of speaking to the heart and helping readers to understand our humanity in a way that allows for understanding our weakness and yet calls us to a higher union with Christ. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking wisdom and insight into the struggles of the human heart.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetic!

Beautiful writer. I would have loved more concrete suggestions, however. I still highly recommend this book, though! A great read!

[Dan Mahoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Christian Self-Mastery spoke to me in many ways. It is a book that I will be reading again as there is so much thought provoking passages.

[Christina Pinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and very logical and organized. Was written in a different time but the same principals can be applied today.

[Renee Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is more a description of what Christian self-mastery looks like than a how-to guide, but still quite good.

[Joseph Raborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a great reminder that the process of moral improvement is slow and that one needs to properly direct one's passions. Mere self-denial is not enough, but one needs to constantly feed the soul with spiritual food and exhaust oneself for the sake of God and neighbor. This is a great book for those struggling on the path of virtue.

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a magnificent book. It was a product of its time, so I ignored the more imperialist statements rarely spoken of. Overall, it was a great, challenging read. Will read again at some point in the future.