Let our chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of jesus christ. Here is a revised edition of this thomas kempis classic by clare fitzpatrick. It fits into the time period of the transition between the middle ages and the renaissance, and is one of the best selling devotional texts of all time, and while the pious aspect of the text is at the. It was written in latin five hundred years ago and now brings comfort to millions of readers in over fifty languages.
A major theme throughout the imitation is that we live and act unthinkingly and therefore without a reasonable direction to our lives. Book one of the imitation is titled helpful counsels of the spiritual life. New york, 3 1 2 x 5 1 2 inches tall black leather bound, gilt cross to front cover, gilt lettering to spine, all page edges red and gilt, black endpapers, color frontispiece and several fullpage color illustrations through. The imitation of christ catholic book publishing edition kindle edition by kempis, thomas a. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis free ebook. Search or browse the online edition of the imitation of christ, by thomas a kempis. What the pilgrims progress is to works written in english, the imitation of christ is to everything ever written. He wrote the imitation of christ between 1420 and 1427 with the first handwritten manuscripts appearing around 1427. Thomas was a germandutch monk writing to other monks in prereformation times. Previous part 1 next part 3 humbler and more wary and more ready to renounce myself.
The imitation is based on meditations on the life and teachings of jesus, and emphasises the interior life and the centrality of the eucharist rather than an active. The book is a collection of recommendations for how to live ones life daytoday in. To meditate on the life of jesus should therefore be our chief study. A number of his treatises on the monastic life and little devotional essays have been. Does anyone know of a similar book to imitation of christ by thomas a kempis. The imitation of christ book one in the life of the soul. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 1 saith the lord. The first chapter imitating christ and despising all vanities on earth. Ignatius of loyola was one of the many saints who loved to read the imitation of christ. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis full text free.
Topics include meditation, humility, human goodness and purity, singlemindedness of purpose, a good conscience, not worshipping just for the sake of getting nice fuzzy feelings, perseverence in the sake of suffering, and willingly carrying ones cross for love of jesus. Of the imitation of christ four books new edition by a. How man has no personal goodness of which to boast. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis full text. Of the imitation of christ four books new edition by a kempis. The reason of churchgovernement urgd against prelatybook 1 chapter 4. The imitation of christ is a devotional that is held in extremely high regard particularly in catholicism. Do not yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of gods will. The imitation became, and has remained, after the bible, the most widely read and translated book in the world, and certainly the most influential of christian devotional writings. And that he read it everyday and encouraged others to read it too.
The imitation of christ, by thomas a kempis book 1. The imitation of christ, maroon hardcover 9780899423203 by thomas a kempis. The imitation of christ book 1 chapter 9 obedience and subjection. These are christs own words by which he exhorts us to imitate his. He who follows me, walks not in darkness, says the lord. It is a handbook for spiritual life arising from the devotio moderna movement, of which kempis was a member. Imitation of christ book 1 chapter 1 number 4 the imitation of christ, by thomas a kempis, tr. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis goodreads. The reason of churchgovernement urgd against prelaty. The imitation of christ is widely considered one of the greatest manuals of devotion in christianity. Like the three previous classics of monastic literature, the imitation of christ is a guide to changing our lives and learning to grow closer to christ in spirit and in deeds. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the. The imitation of christ book 1 chapter 9 obedience and. Book 1, chapters 110 of the imitation of christ by thomas.
Imitating christ and despising all vanities on earth. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis part 2 out of 4. T he imitation of christ falls into the category of what one might call classic christian devotional. By these words of christ we are advised to imitate his life and habits, if we. This beginning goes back to the incarnation and the earthly life of jesus. The author of the imitation of christ, one of the best known christian. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis book 1 chapter 1. Page numbers below refer to thomas a kempis, the imitation of christ. I use it as a devotional, 1 chapter a day after i learned that this was also saint. The full thomas a kempis text comprised four books, the first three of which make up.
The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis, paperback. Imitating christ and despising all vanities on earth he who. This treasured book has brought peace to readers for many ages by showing how to follow the life of christ to which all are called. Oct 03, 2016 the imitation of christ falls into the category of what one might call classic christian devotional. The catholic archive thomas a kempis the imitation of christ book 1 chapter 4 prudence in action. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,1 saith the lord. I am reading it one paragraph at a time to stretch it out. Widely praised across centuries and continents, a preface to an 1873 edition of the book reads, the imitation of christ has received the unqualified. Spiritual life catholic church early works to 1800 subject.
The second book focuses on the life to be led by a follower of christ, with the reminder that no one is richer, more. This classic and treasured edition, aptly entitled my imitation of christ, is crafted specifically for the busy person in the modern world. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Source secondly, kempis suggests an extreme selfdenial and mortification of the flesh in response to jesus call for discipleship. We also act without true knowledge and without plan or. The imitation of christ catholic book publishing edition. The imitation of christ book 1 chapter 9 obedience. It is a handbook for spiritual life arising from the devotio moderna movement, of which kempis was a member the imitation is perhaps the most widely read christian devotional work next to the bible, and is regarded as a devotional and religious classic.
It fits into the time period of the transition between the middle ages and the renaissance, and is one of the best selling devotional texts of all time, and while the pious. The imitation includes four books that vary in both length book two has only 12 chapters, and book three has 59 and themes. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis is a christian devotional book. After the bible, the imitation of christ by thomas a kempis is the favorite book of catholics throughout the world and has been the spiritual guide of the saints since it first appeared in 1418. Imitating christ and despising all vanities on earth 2. Therefore unlesse we shall choose our prelats only out of the nobility, and let them runne in a blood, there can. A spiritual classic written for those in religious life, but used for centuries by all sorts of christians. The imitation of christ multilanguage catholic ebook. Dec 03, 2014 the imitation of christ book 1 chapter 9 obedience and subjection. The imitation of christ is a christian devotional book by thomas a kempis, first composed in.
Its exact date and its authorship are still a matter of debate. He who is made learned by the gift of grace and taught wisdom by the stroke of the withdrawal thereof, will not dare to claim any good. Thomas a kempis a spiritual commentary and readers guide 9780870612343 by thomas a kempis. After the bible, this is the touchstone and probably the bestloved book of christianity. Gnosticism, the first heresy, denied the reality of the humanity of jesus. By these words of christ we are advised to imitate his life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. And ye became imitators of us, and of the lord, having received. It is vanity then to seek after, and to trust in, the riches that shall perish. Each of these is further subdivided into anywhere from twelve to fiftysix minireflections on related topics. A question about the imitation of christ spirituality. Book 1, chapters 110 of the imitation of christ by thomas a kempis. He copied the bible no less than four times, one of the copies being preserved. Theology, doctrinal, early works, imitation of jesus christ, jesus christ, imitatio christi, quotations it is often good for us to have others know our faults and rebuke them, for it gives us greater humility. The catholic archive thomas a kempis the imitation of christ book 1 chapter 1 imitating christ and despising all vanities on earth he who follows me, walks not in darkness, says the lord.
This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. Man has no good in himself and can glory in nothing. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis table of contents. The imitation of christ by thomas i kempis, paperback. The imitation of christ the first book admonitions profitable for the spiritual life chapter i of the imitation of christ, and of contempt of the world and all its vanities he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, 1 saith the lord. Book 1, chapters 110 of the imitation of christ by thomas a.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the. By 1779 there were at least 1,800 editions and translations. The text is divided into four books, which provide detailed spiritual instructions. Online book the imitation of christ by thomas a kempis. The text is divided into four books, which provide detailed spiritual. The one religious book that is second only to the bible in popularity. Every time there is a need for christ to interfere i. An encouragement to read thomas a kempiss the imitation of. Of the imitation of christ and the contempt of the world he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, saith the lord.
Manuscripts of the latin version survive in considerable numbers all over western europe, and they, with the vast list of translations. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the imitation of christ catholic book publishing edition. By thomas a kempis nihil obstat and imprimatur, 1941book 1 chapter 1. Book one contains useful reminders for the spiritual life. Perhaps the how to should include how to live with others, with oneself, and with christ at all times. This section of the medieval spiritual classic talks about the interior life. Catholic church doctrines early works to 1800 subject. The imitation of christ was written or at a minimum, transcribed by catholic monk thomas kempis circa 801471, as four separate books completed between 1420 and 1427, at mount saint agnes monastery, in the town of windesheim. These are the words of christ, whereby we are admonished how we must imitate his life and conversation, if we would be truly enlightened and delivered from all blindness of. The treatise of the imitation of christ appears to have been originally written in latin early in the fifteenth century. Of the imitation of christ, and of contempt of the world and all its vanities chapter 2. The word imitate does not appear in the canonical gospels, but the word follow is often applied to those who believed in jesus, and jesus is quoted as requiring imitation in some form matthew 10.
For what would it profit us to know the whole bible by heart and the principles of. Focusing on a single chapter at a time, this edition of the imitation christ will help readers appreciate this timeless spiritual classic and integrate its truth into their lives. Commentaries, history books, and more are linked to this page. The book has been deeply influential and highly revered for more than 500 years. Mar 12, 2009 by thomas a kempis nihil obstat and imprimatur, 1941book 1 chapter 1. If you wish to be in the world, but not of the world, there is no better edition of this timeless classic than my imitation of christ. The life of christ is presented as the highest study possible to a mortal, as jesus teachings far excel all the teachings of the saints. Widely praised across centuries and continents, a preface to an 1873 edition of the book. He copied the bible no less than four times, one of the copies being. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis book 1 chapter. Each of these is further subdivided into anywhere from twelve to. The imitation of christ, by thomas a kempis book 1, chapter 1. Read this work for five hundred years, this gentle book, filled with the spirit of the love of god, has brought understanding and comfort to millions of readers in over fifty languages, and provided them with a source of heartfelt personal prayer.
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