Giovanni Battista Scaramelli (1687 - 1752) was an Italian Jesuit, ethicist, and ascetical writer. He was born at Rome and entered the Society of Jesus in 1706. For fifteen years he devoted himself to preaching and the ministry writing a number of famous works.

The following topics are covered in this first volume:

I. Essential Perfection, And Instrumental Perfection In What They Consist Various Degrees Of Christian Perfection Division Of The Work
II. The Desire Of Perfection Is The First Means For Its Attainment; And This Desire Must Never Relax, But Tend Always To Higher Perfection The Motives Which Excite And Increase Such Desire
III. The Second Means To Acquire Christian Perfection Is The Choice Of A Good Director
IV. Third Means Of Acquiring Perfection The Reading Of Spiritual Books
V. Fourth Means Of Acquiring Perfection Meditation On The Maxims Of Our Faith
VI. Fifth Means Of Acquiring Christian Perfection Mental And Vocal Prayer
VII. On The Presence Of God
VIII. Seventh Means For Attaining To Christian Perfection Sacramental Confession Made Frequently And With Due Dispositions
IX. Eighth Means Of Attaining To Christian Perfection Daily Examination Of Conscience
X. Ninth Means For Attaining Perfection Frequent Communion
XI. Tenth Means Of Attaining Christian Perfection Devotion To The Saints, And Especially To The Blessed VIrgin