Title Page
Foreword

BOOK ONE. THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL

The First Chapter: Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth
The Second Chapter: Having a Humble Opinion of Self
The Third Chapter: The Doctrine of Truth
The Fourth Chapter: Prudence in Action
The Fifth Chapter: Reading the Holy Scripture
The Sixth Chapter: Unbridled Affections
The Seventh Chapter: Avoiding False Hope and Pride
The Eighth Chapter: Shunning Over-Familiarity
The Ninth Chapter: Obedience and Subjection
The Tenth Chapter: Avoiding Idle Talk
The Eleventh Chapter: Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Perfection
The Twelfth Chapter: The Value of Adversity
The Thirteenth Chapter: Resisting Temptation
The Fourteenth Chapter: Avoiding Rash Judgment
The Fifteenth Chapter: Works Done in Charity
The Sixteenth Chapter: Bearing with the Faults of Others
The Seventeenth Chapter: Monastic Life
The Eighteenth Chapter: The Example Set Us by the Holy Fathers
The Nineteenth Chapter: The Practices of a Good Religious
The Twentieth Chapter: The Love of Solitude and Silence
The Twenty-First Chapter: Sorrow of Heart
The Twenty-Second Chapter: Thoughts on the Misery of Man
The Twenty-Third Chapter: Thoughts on Death
The Twenty-Fourth Chapter: Judgment and the Punishment of Sin
The Twenty-Fifth Chapter: Zeal in Amending our Lives

BOOK TWO. THE INTERIOR LIFE

The First Chapter: Meditation
The Second Chapter: Humility
The Third Chapter: Goodness and Peace in Man
The Fourth Chapter: Purity of Mind and Unity of Purpose
The Fifth Chapter: Ourselves
The Sixth Chapter: The Joy of a Good Conscience
The Seventh Chapter: Loving Jesus Above All Things
The Eighth Chapter: The Intimate Friendship of Jesus
The Ninth Chapter: Wanting No Share in Comfort
The Tenth Chapter: Appreciating God's Grace
The Eleventh Chapter: Few Love the Cross of Jesus
The Twelfth Chapter: The Royal Road of the Holy Cross

BOOK THREE. INTERNAL CONSOLATION

The First Chapter: The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul
The Second Chapter: Truth Speaks Inwardly Without the Sound of Words
The Third Chapter: Listen Humbly to the Words of God. Many Do Not Heed Them
The Fourth Chapter: We Must Walk Before God in Humility and Truth
The Fifth Chapter: The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love
The Sixth Chapter: The Proving of a True Lover
The Seventh Chapter: Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility
The Eighth Chapter: Self-Abasement in the Sight of God
The Ninth Chapter: All Things should be Referred to God as their Last End
The Tenth Chapter: To Despise the World and Serve God is Sweet
The Eleventh Chapter: The Longings of our Hearts Must Be Examined And Moderated
The Twelfth Chapter: Acquiring Patience in the Fight Against Concupiscence
The Thirteenth Chapter: The Obedience of One Humbly Subject to the Example of Jesus Christ
The Fourteenth Chapter: Consider the Hidden Judgments of God Lest You Become Proud of Your Own Good Deeds
The Fifteenth Chapter: How One Should Feel and Speak on Every Desirable Thing
The Sixteenth Chapter: True Comfort Is to Be Sought in God Alone
The Seventeenth Chapter: All Our Care is to Be Placed in God
The Eighteenth Chapter: Temporal Sufferings Should Be Borne Patiently, After the Example of Christ
The Nineteenth Chapter: True Patience in Suffering
The Twentieth Chapter: Confessing Our Weakness in the Miseries of Life
The Twenty-first Chapter: Above All Goods and All Gifts We Must Rest in God
The Twenty-Second Chapter: Remember the Innumerable Gifts of God
The Twenty-Third Chapter: Four Things Which Bring Great Peace
The Twenty-Fourth Chapter: Avoiding Curious Inquiry About the Lives of Others
The Twenty-Fifth Chapter: The Basis of Firm Peace of Heart and True Progress
The Twenty-Sixth Chapter: The Excellence of a Free Mind, Gained Through Prayer Rather Than By Study
The Twenty-Seventh Chapter: Self-Love is the Greatest Hindrance to the Highest Good
The Twenty-Eighth Chapter: Strength Against Slander
The Twenty-Ninth Chapter: How We Must Call Upon and Bless the Lord When Trouble Presses
The Thirtieth Chapter: The Quest of Divine Help and Confidence in Regaining Grace
The Thirty-First Chapter: To Find the Creator, Forsake All Creatures
The Thirty-Second Chapter: Self-Denial and the Renunciation of Evil Appetites
The Thirty-Third Chapter: Restlessness of Soul--Directing Our Final Intention Toward God
The Thirty-Fourth Chapter: God is Sweet Above All Things and in All Things to Those Who Love Him
The Thirty-Fifth Chapter: There is No Security from Temptation in This Life
The Thirty-Sixth Chapter: The Vain Judgments of Men
The Thirty-Seventh Chapter: Pure and Entire Resignation of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart
The Thirty-Eighth Chapter: The Right Ordering of External Affairs; Recourse to God in Dangers
The Thirty-Ninth Chapter: A Man Should Not Be Unduly Solicitous About His Affairs
The Fortieth Chapter: Man Has No Good in Himself and Can Glory in Nothing
The Forty-First Chapter: Contempt for All Earthly Honor
The Forty-Second Chapter: Peace is Not to Be Placed in Men
The Forty-Third Chapter: Beware Vain and Worldly Knowledge
The Forty-Fourth Chapter: Do Not Be Concerned About Outward Things
The Forty-Fifth Chapter: All Men Are Not to Be Believed, for It Is Easy to Err in Speech
The Forty-Sixth Chapter: Trust in God Against Slander
The Forty-Seventh Chapter: Every Trial Must Be Borne for the Sake of Eternal Life
The Forty-Eighth Chapter: The Day of Eternity and the Distresses of This Life
The Forty-Ninth Chapter: The Desire of Eternal Life; the Great Rewards Promised to Those Who Struggle
The Fiftieth Chapter: How a Desolate Person Ought to Commit Himself Into the Hands of God
The Fifty-First Chapter: When We Cannot Attain to the Highest, We Must Practice the Humble Works
The Fifty-Second Chapter: A Man Ought Not to Consider Himself Worthy of Consolation, But Rather Deserving of Chastisement
The Fifty-Third Chapter: God's Grace Is Not Given to the Earthly Minded
The Fifty-Fourth Chapter: The Different Motions of Nature and Grace
The Fifty-Fifth Chapter: The Corruption of Nature and the Efficacy of Divine Grace
The Fifty-Sixth Chapter: We Ought to Deny Ourselves and Imitate Christ Through Bearing the Cross
The Fifty-Seventh Chapter: A Man Should Not Be Too Downcast When He Falls Into Defects
The Fifty-Eighth Chapter: High Matters and the Hidden Judgments of God Are Not to Be Scrutinized
The Fifty-Ninth Chapter: All Hope and Trust Are to Be Fixed In God Alone

BOOK FOUR. AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION

Introduction
The First Chapter: The Great Reverence With Which We Should Receive Christ
The Second Chapter: God's Great Goodness and Love is Shown to Man in This Sacrament
The Third Chapter: It Is Profitable to Receive Communion Often
The Fourth Chapter: Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily
The Fifth Chapter: The Dignity of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood
The Sixth Chapter: An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion
The Seventh Chapter: The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend
The Eighth Chapter: The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering
The Ninth Chapter: We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All
The Tenth Chapter: Do Not Lightly Forego Holy Communion
The Eleventh Chapter: The Body of Christ and Sacred Scripture Are Most Necessary to a Faithful Soul
The Twelfth Chapter: The Communicant Should Prepare Himself for Christ with Great Care
The Thirteenth Chapter: With All Her Heart the Devout Soul Should Desire Union with Christ in the Sacrament
The Fourteenth Chapter: The Ardent Longing of Devout Men for the Body of Christ
The Fifteenth Chapter: The Grace of Devotion is Acquired Through Humility and Self-Denial
The Sixteenth Chapter: We Should Show Our Needs to Christ and Ask His Grace
The Seventeenth Chapter: The Burning Love and Strong Desire to Receive Christ
The Eighteenth Chapter: Man Should Not Scrutinize This Sacrament in Curiosity, But Humbly Imitate Christ and Submit Reason to Holy Faith

**Indexes**

Subject Index