Are you all doing well? I am having a really enjoyable summer. My one struggle is that
everyday, I find another book I want to order! There are so many magnificent books to read, and it is not possible for me to get them all! I thought that today I would post a review of a book which I have greatly enjoyed. It is another TAN Books publication! Today I will be reviewing Paul Thigpen’s Manual for Spiritual Warfare, which is available here.
Physical Characteristics (Leatherette Edition) – 5/5 stars
Like so many of TAN’s publications, this book is truly beautiful. The cover is simple, but elegant. The leatherette feels very nice when being held and is durable. There is a ribbon bookmark. The pages are made of very nice creamy paper, with the printing in black with red accents. The edges of the pages are silver and shiny! It is the same size as the Manual for Eucharistic Adoration; just the right size to fit in a purse. Overall, this is a high quality volume.
Content – 5/5 stars
This book carries with it a nihil obstat and imprimatur, which is especially important in a book dealing with a topic like spiritual warfare. This book is divided into two sections. The first section, titled “Preparing for Battle”, is devoted to explaining Church teaching on the reality of the devil, how the virtues protect us from evil, as well as the importance of the Sacraments and the Mass in our spiritual lives. It also explains the various things which people need to avoid to keep from opening the doors of their souls to the devil. I really appreciated the sober treatment of these subjects. I also thought that the book did an excellent job in warning those who are not trained exorcists with the approval of the Church against attempting exorcisms or directly addressing the devil. By doing either one of these things, the Catholic exhibits spiritual pride and puts oneself in great spiritual danger. This section of the book is really well done. It provides much needed information to people in an age when the devil and hell are too often dismissed as myths.
The second part of the books is titled, “Aids in Battle”. It is really the prayer book section of this volume. It contains quotations from Scripture, which provide ample fruit for meditation and prayer. It also has quotations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, quotations from various Church councils, and from the Saints. There are also many beautiful hymns and devotions. I particularly love the rosary meditations in this book.
The Manual of Spiritual Warfare is a wonderful resource dealing with a very important topic. It is not sensationalist, but rather provides a sober treatment of the topic of spiritual warfare. It beautifully illustrates the truth that we can be confident that we are safe when we submit ourselves to the authority of the Church and frequent Mass and the Sacraments, and live virtuous lives. I really enjoyed the section which compiled many quotations from the saints. I had not seen a lot of these before and found them to be profound.
I would recommend this book to everyone. It is an invaluable resource for prayer and meditation!
Spes in Caritate 