THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
Thomas à Kempis
| Book One. | Book Two. | Book Three. | Book Four. |
Book
One. Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul
Book
Three. Internal Consolation
1.
The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul
2. Truth Speaks Inwardly without the Sound of Words
3. Listen Humbly to the Words of God. Many Do Not Heed Them
A PRAYER FOR THE GRACE OF DEVOTION
O Lord my God, You are all my good. And who am I that I should dare to
speak to You? I am Your poorest and meanest servant, a vile worm, much more poor
and contemptible than I know or dare to say. Yet remember me, Lord, because I am
nothing, I have nothing, and I can do nothing. You alone are good, just, and
holy. You can do all things, You give all things, You fill all things: only the
sinner do You leave empty-handed. Remember Your tender mercies and fill my heart
with Your grace, You Who will not allow Your works to be in vain. How can I bear
this life of misery unless You comfort me with Your mercy and grace? Do not turn
Your face from me. Do not delay Your visitation. Do not withdraw Your
consolation, lest in Your sight my soul become as desert land. Teach me, Lord,
to do Your will. Teach me to live worthily and humbly in Your sight, for You are
my wisdom Who know me truly, and Who knew me even before the world was made and
before I was born into it.
4.
We Must Walk Before God in Humility and Truth
5. The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love
6. The Proving of a True Lover
7. Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility
8. Self-Abasement in the Sight of God
9. All Things Should be Referred to God as their Last End
10. To Despise the World and Serve God is Sweet
11. The Longings of Our Hearts Must Be Examined and Moderated
12. Acquiring Patience in the Fight against Concupiscence
13. The Obedience of One Humbly Subject to the Example of Jesus Christ
14. Consider the Hidden Judgments of God Lest You Become Proud of Your Own Good
Deeds
15. How One Should Feel and Speak on Every Desirable Thing
A PRAYER THAT THE WILL OF GOD BE DONE
Grant me Your grace, O most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me, and work
with me, and remain with me to the very end. Grant that I may always desire and
will that which is most acceptable and pleasing to You. Let Your will be mine.
Let my will always follow Yours and agree perfectly with it. Let my will be one
with Yours in willing and in not willing, and let me be unable to will or not
will anything but what You will or do not will. Grant that I may die to all
things in this world, and for Your sake love to be despised and unknown in this
life. Give me above all desires the desire to rest in You, and in You let my
heart have peace. You are true peace of heart. You alone are its rest. Without
You all things are difficult and troubled. In this peace, the selfsame that is
in You, the Most High, the everlasting Good, I will sleep and take my rest.
Amen.
16.
True Comfort is to be Sought in God Alone
17. All Our Care is to be Placed in God
18. Temporal Sufferings Should be Borne Patiently, After the Example of Christ
19. True Patience in Suffering
20. Confessing Our Weakness in the Miseries of Life
21. Above All Goods and All Gifts We Must Rest in God
22. Remember the Innumerable Gifts of God
23. Four Things Which Bring Great Peace
A PRAYER AGAINST BAD THOUGHTS
O Lord my God, be not far from me. O my God, hasten to help me, for varied
thoughts and great fears have risen up within me, afflicting my soul. How shall
I escape them unharmed? How shall I dispel them?
"I will go before you," says the Lord, "and will humble the great
ones of earth. I will open the doors of the prison, and will reveal to you
hidden secrets."
Do as You say, Lord, and let all evil thoughts fly from Your face. This is my
hope and my only comfort -- to fly to You in all tribulation, to confide in You,
and to call on You from the depths of my heart and to await patiently for Your
consolation.
24.
Avoiding Curious Inquiry About the Lives of Others
25. The Basis of Firm Peace of Heart and True Progress
26. The Excellence of a Free Mind, Gained Through Prayer Rather Than by Study
27. Self-Love is the Greatest Hindrance to the Highest Good
A PRAYER FOR CLEANSING THE HEART AND OBTAINING HEAVENLY WISDOM
Strengthen me by the grace of Your holy spirit, O God. Give me the power
to be strengthened inwardly and to empty my heart of all vain care and anxiety,
so that I may not be drawn away by many desires, whether for precious things or
mean ones. Let me look upon everything as passing, and upon myself as soon to
pass away with them, because there is nothing lasting under the sun, where all
is vanity and affliction of spirit. How wise is he who thinks thus!
Give me, Lord, heavenly wisdom to learn above all else to seek and find You, to
enjoy and love You more than anything, and to consider other things as they are,
as Your wisdom has ordered them. Grant me prudence to avoid the flatterer and to
bear patiently with him who disagrees with me. For it is great wisdom not to be
moved by the sound of words, nor to give ear to the wicked, flattering siren.
Then, I shall walk safely in the way I have begun.
28.
Strength Against Slander
29. How We Must Call Upon and Bless the Lord When Trouble Presses
30. The Quest of Divine Help and Confidence in Regaining Grace
31. To Find the Creator, Forsake All Creatures
32. Self-Denial and the Renunciation of Evil Appetites
33. Restlessness of Soul -- Directing Our Final Intention Toward God
34. God is Sweet Above All Things and in All Things to Those Who Love Him
35. There is No Security from Temptation in This Life
36. The Vain Judgments of Men
37. Pure and Entire Resignation of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart
38. The Right Ordering of External Affairs; Recourse to God in Dangers
39. A Man Should Not be Unduly Solicitous about his Affairs
40. Man Has No Good
in Himself and Can Glory in Nothing
41. Contempt for All
Earthly Honor
42. Peace is not to be Placed in Men
43. Beware Vain and Worldly Knowledge
44. Do Not be Concerned About Outward Things
45. All Men Are Not To Be Believed, For It is Easy To Err in Speech
46. Trust in God Against Slander
47. Every Trial Must Be Borne for the Sake of Eternal Life
48. The Day of Eternity and the Distresses of this Life
49. The Desire of Eternal Life; The Great Rewards Promised to Those Who Struggle
50. How a Desolate Person Ought to Commit Himself into the Hands of God
51. When We Cannot Attain to the Highest, We Must Practice the Humble Works
52. A Man Ought Not to Consider Himself Worthy of Consolation, But Rather
Deserving of Chastisement
53. God's Grace Is Not Given to the Earthly Minded
54. The Different Motions of Nature and Grace
55. The Corruption of Nature and the Efficacy of Divine Grace
56. We Ought to Deny Ourselves and Imitate Christ Through Bearing the Cross
57. A Man Should Not Be Too Downcast When He Falls Into Defects
58. High Matters and the Hidden Judgments of God Are Not To Be Scrutinized
59. All Hope and Trust Are To Be Fixed in God Alone
Book
Four. An Invitation to the Holy Communion
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
COME to Me, all you that labor and are
burdened, and I will refresh you. (Mt 11,28).
The bread which I will give is My Flesh, for the life of the world.(Gv 6,52).
Take you and eat: this is My Body, which shall be delivered for you. Do this for
the commemoration of Me.(1Cor 11,24).
He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, abideth in Me, and I in him.(Gv
6,57).
The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life."(Gv 6,64).
1.
The Great Reverence With Which We Should Receive Christ
2. God's Great Goodness and Love is Shown to Man in This Sacrament
3. It Is Profitable To Receive Communion Often
4. Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily
5. The Dignity of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood
6. An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to do Before Communion
7. The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend
8. The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering
9. We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All
10. Do Not Lightly
Forego Holy Communion
11. The Body of Christ
and Sacred Scripture Are Most Necessary to a Faithful Soul
12. The Communicant
Should Prepare Himself for Christ with Great Care
13. With All Her Heart
the Devout Soul Should Desire
14. The Ardent Longing
of Devout Men for the Body of Christ
15. The Grace of
Devotion is Acquired Through Humility and Self-Denial
16. We Should Show Our
Needs to Christ and Ask His Grace
17. The Burning Love
and Strong Desire to Receive Christ
18. Man Should Not
Scrutinize This Sacrament in Curiosity, But Humbly Imitate Christ and Submit
Reason to Holy Faith