The Imitation of Christ

Written over five centuries ago by Thomas Kempis, The Imitation of Christ has been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible. It has been acclaimed by countless readers as one of the greatest spiritual masterpieces ever written.

Born in 1379, Thomas Haemerken was but thirteen when he left his home in Cologne to further his schooling in Holland. Informed upon his arrival that his older brother, who had gone on before, had entered a monastic order, Thomas followed suit entering the order of The Common Life. Upon entry he took no vows, yet chose on his own to live a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Well-loved and respected by all, he was promoted within the order on more than one occasion. Those who knew him spoke often of his love for reading, writing, and prayer. Though considered a man of few words, he was known to express his thoughts quite passionately when conversations turned to matters of the soul. Both the impression he left behind and the power of his writings are revered to this day by people of faith.

Book 1: Useful Admonitions for the Spiritual Life

On Following Christ Our Model

13

(2)

On Having a Humble Opinion of Oneself

15

(2)

On the Teaching of Truth

17

(3)

On Being Prudent in What We Accept and Do

20

(2)

On the Reading of Holy Scripture

22

(1)

Concerning Inordinate Affections

23

(1)

On False Confidence and Arrogance

23

(2)

On Avoiding Too Much Familiarity

25

(1)

On Being Obedient and Submissive

26

(2)

On How to Acquire Peace and on the Desire to Improve

28

(2)

On the Advantage of Not Having Everything Our Own Way

30

(1)

On Resisting Temptation

31

(4)

On Avoiding Hasty Judgments

35

(1)

On Works Done from the Motive of Charity

36

(1)

On Breaking with the Defects of Others

37

(2)

On the Religious Life

39

(1)

On the Examples Given by the Holy Fathers

40

(3)

On the Exercises of a Good Religious

43

(3)

On the Love of Solitude and Silence

46

(4)

On Compunction of Heart

50

(3)

On the Consideration of Human Misery

53

(3)

Meditation on Death

56

(4)

On the Last Judgment and the Punishment for Sins

60

(6)

On the Fervent Amendment of Our Whole Life

66

(7)

Book 2: Considerations for Leading An Interior Life

On Interior Conversation

73

(4)

On Humble Submission

77

(1)

The Peaceful Person

78

(2)

On Purity of Mind and a Simple Intention

80

(1)

On Knowing Yourself

81

(2)

On the Joy of a Good Conscience

83

(2)

On the Love of Jesus Above All Things

85

(3)

On the Familiar Friendship of Jesus

88

(2)

On the Want of All Comfort

90

(4)

On Gratitude for God's Grace

94

(3)

On the Small Number of the Lovers of the Cross

97

(2)

On the Royal Road of the Cross

99

(10)

Book 3: On Interior Conversation

On the Way Christ Speaks Inwardly to the Soul

109

(1)

How God Speaks Within Us Without Sound of Words

110

(2)

The Words of God Are to Be Heard with Humility; Many Fail to Reflect on Them

112

(3)

We Should Walk Before God in Truth and Humility

115

(3)

On the Wonderful Effect of the Love of God

118

(4)

On the Proof of a True Lover

122

(4)

How Grace Is to Be Kept Close through the Virtue of Humility

126

(3)

On the Lowly Esteem of Self in God's Sight

129

(2)

How All Things Are to Be Referred to God, Our Last End

131

(1)

On the Joy of Serving God and Abandoning the World

132

(4)

On the Need to Examine and Moderate the Desires of the Heart

136

(1)

On Acquiring Patience in the Struggle against Concupiscence

137

(3)

On Humble Obedience After the Example of Our Lord, Jesus Christ

140

(2)

On Considering the Secret Judgments of God So That We Do Not Become Proud of Our Good Works

142

(2)

On How We Are to Conduct Ourselves in Our Desires

144

(2)

True Solace Is to Be Sought in God Alone

146

(2)

That All Cares Must Be Placed in God

148

(2)

That All Temporal Sorrows Are to Be Borne Patiently after the Example of Christ

150

(2)

On the Patient Suffering of Injuries, and Who Is Really Patient

152

(2)

On Acknowledging Our Own Infirmities and the Miseries of This Life

154

(2)

On How We Are to Rest in God Above All Things

156

(4)

On Remembering the Manifold Benefits of God

160

(2)

On Four Things Which Bring Great Peace

162

(3)

On Avoiding Curious Inquiry into the Lives of Others

165

(1)

In What Consists Firm Peace of Heart and True Progress

166

(4)

On the Excellence of a Free Mind, the Reward of Humble Prayer Rather Than of Reading

170

(1)

Nothing Withholds Us from God As Much As Self-Love

171

(3)

Against Slanderous Tongues

174

(1)

How We Should Call Upon God and Bless Him in Time of Tribulation

175

(1)

On Asking the Divine Assistance and on Confidence of Recovering Grace

176

(3)

On Disregarding Creatures to Find the Creator

179

(4)

On Self-Abnegation and the Renunciation of All Convetousness

183

(2)

On Inconstancy of Heart and the Directing of Our Final Intention to God

185

(1)

The Person Who Loves God Delights in Him Above All Things

186

(2)

On the Lack of Security from Temptation in This Life

188

(3)

Against the Vain Judgements of Humans

191

(1)

On Self-Renunciation to Obtain Freedom of Spirit

192

(3)

On How to Govern Ourselves and on Having Recourse to God in Danger

195

(3)

On Prudence in Worldly Affairs

198

(2)

We Have No Good of Ourselves and Can Glory in Nothing

200

(2)

On the Contempt of All Temporal Things

202

(1)

Our Peace Must Not Depend upon Human Beings

203

(2)

On the Vanity of Worldly Learning

205

On Not Drawing to Ourselves Exterior Things

189

(20)

On Not Being Too Credulous Knowing How Easily We Offend in Speech

209

(4)

On Putting Our Trust in God When Evil Words Are Spoken against Us

213

(3)

All Grievous Things Are to Be Borne for the Sake of Eternal Life

216

(3)

On the Day of Eternity and the Troubles of This Life

219

(4)

On the Longing for Eternal Life and How Great Are the Joys Promised to Those Who Fight to Gain That Life

223

(4)

How Persons Who Are Desolate Ought to Offer Themselves into the Hands of God

227

(5)

On Exercising Ourselves in Humble Works When We Cannot Attain to the Highest

232

(1)

That Persons Ought to Think That They Do Not Deserve Consolation But Rather Punishment

233

(2)

God's Grace is Incompatible with the Love of Worldly Things

235

(4)

On the Opposition between Nature and Grace

239

(4)

On the Corruption of Nature and the Power of God's Grace

243

(5)

That We Must Deny Ourselves and Bear the Cross with Christ

248

(2)

That People Should Not Become Dejected When They Fall into Some Defects

250

(3)

That People Should Not Search into the Unfathomable Judgements of God

253

(6)

That All Our Hope and Confidence Is to be Place in God Alone

259

(4)

Book 4: On the Blessed Sacrament And Devout Exhortations for Holy Communion

The Great Reverence with Which Christ Should be Received

263

(7)

On the Great Goodness of God Shown Human Beings in the Blessed Sacrament

270

(3)

On the Advantage of Frequent Communion

273

(3)

On the Many Benefits Bestowed on Those Who Communicate Devoutly

276

(4)

On the Dignity of the Sacrament and on the Priestly Office

280

(2)

On the Question of Proper Preparation before Communion

282

(1)

On the Examination of Our Conscience and on the Firm Purpose of Amendment

283

(3)

On the Offering of Christ on the Cross, and the Resignation of Ourselves

286

(1)

We Must Offer Ourselves and All That Is Ours to God, and Pray for All People

287

(3)

That We Must Not Lightly Refrain from Holy Communion

290

(3)

The Body of Christ and Holy Scripture Are Most Necessary to the Faithful Soul

293

(5)

On How We Should Prepare to Receive Christ in Holy Communion

298

(2)

A Devout Soul Should Long with the Whole Heart Heart to Be United to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament

300

(4)

for the Body of Christ

302

(2)

That the Grace of Devotion Is Obtained by Humility and Self-Denial

304

(2)

That We Should Reveal Our Needs to Christ and Ask His Grace

306

(2)

On a Burning Love and Eager Desire to Receive Christ

308

(2)

That People Must Not Curiously Search into This Sacrament, But Be Humble Followers of Christ, Always Submitting Their Senses to Holy Faith

310

(4)

Indices

Index of Themes

314

(2)

Index of Suitable Passages

316

(2)

Index of Prayers

318

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The Imitation of Christ

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

The Imitation of Christ

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License