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The Imitation of Christ

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Original price $5.95
$5.95
$5.95 - $5.95
Current price $5.95
Publisher: Dover
Publication Date:
Format: Paperback
Pages: 139
Availability: In Stock
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The Imitation of Christ is a timeless classic of Christian devotional literature that has brought understanding and comfort to millions of readers over the centuries. Written in a candid and conversational style, these meditations on the life and teachings of Jesus offer guidance on prayer, spiritual liberation from worldly inclinations, and the consolations of prayer. The Imitation of Christ also explores the role of eucharistic communion in a devout life.

This new translation will appeal to both new readers and those already familiar with this religious classic. With its simple, readable text, The Imitation of Christ is an essential addition to any Christian bookshelf.

A humble farmer who serves God is more acceptable to Him than an inquisitive philosopher who, considering the constellations of heaven, willingly forgets himself.

If you see any person sin or commit any great crime openly before you, do not judge yourself to be better than he, for you know not how long you shall perservere in goodness. We are all frail, but you shall judge no man more frail than yourself.

When a man desires anything inordinately, he is at once unquiet in himself. The proud and covetous man never has rest, but the humble man and poor in spirit lives in great abundances of rest and peace.

If you have any goodness or virtue, believe firmly that there is much more goodness and virtue in others, so that you may always keep yourself in humility. No harm comes if you hold yourself worse than any other, though it may not in truth be so, but much harm results if you prefer yourself above any other, even if he is ever so great a sinner.

We might have much peace if we would not meddle with other men's sayings and doings that do not concern us. How can he long live in peace who willfully meddles with other men's business and who seeks occasions for it straightway in the world and seldom or never gathers himself together in God? Blessed be the true, simple, and humble people, for they shall have a great plentitude of a peace.

Always have a good eye to yourself, and be careful not to judge other men too easily. In judging others a man often labors in vain, often errs, and carelessly offends God, but in judging himself and his own deeds he always labors fruitfully and to his spiritual profit. We often judge according to our own heart and affections, and not according to the truth.

Study always to be patient in bearing other men's defects, for you have many in yourself that others suffer from you, and if you cannot make yourself be as you would, how may you then look to have another regulated in all things to suit your will?

We would gladly have others perfect, yet we will not amend our own faults. We desire others to be strictly corrected for their offenses, yet we will not be corrected. We dislike it that others have liberty, yet we will not be denied what we ask. We desire that others should be restrained according to the laws, yet we will in no way be restrained. And so it appears evident that we seldom judge our neighbors as we do ourselves.

If I love the world, I soon rejoice at worldly happiness and soon sorrow at adversity. If I love the flesh, I imagine often what pleases the flesh, and if I love my soul, I delight much to speak and to hear of things that are for my soul's health. And so, whatever I love, I gladly hear and speak of it, and bear the thoughts of it often in my mind.

God walks with simple people, He shows himself to humble persons, He gives understanding to those who are poor in spirit, He opens wisdom to pure, clean minds, but He hides His grace from inquisitive and proud men. Man's reason is humble and weak and soon deceived, but faith is firm and true and cannot be deceived.

When a man desire a thing too much, he at once becomes ill at ease. A proud and avaricious man never rest, whereas, he who is poor and humble of heart lives in a world of peace.

Thomas a Kempis:

Thomas a Kempis was a German who became a canon regular of the late medieval period in the Netherlands, and the author of The Imitation of Christ, one of the most popular and best known Christian books on devotion.

Customer Reviews

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V
VincentF
A Must-Read Classic

Have you ever read a book where, you knew it was great, but you procrastinated for years to read it, and upon finally reading it, it totally surpassed the great expectations you put on it? Well that was my experience with The Imitation of Christ. I’m tempted to excitedly drown this review in positive superlatives, but I’ll try to control myself.

Of all of the books I’ve read on the spiritual life, this is right at the top of the list. This book is so good, that it is a tremendous disservice to read more than a couple of its short chapters a night. The value of it is so extraordinary, and it hits you so hard, that you simply want to meditate on these short passages for the rest of the night. Reading something like 20-30 pages would dilute your absorption of the treasures inside this book.

As a result, it took me about a month to finish this book. A couple months later, I decided I didn’t absorb nearly enough, so I read the book again. And I intend to read the book every time I renew my Total Consecration (This was on the shortlist of books recommended for mental preparation for your Consecration, and rightfully so).

Basically, this book acts as a huge examination of conscience. All the vanity you possess, all your outward judgmental gazes, all your contempt for other people, is rightfully called out in this book. Thomas a Kempis flips the whole thing around: Turn your gaze toward YOU, judge YOURSELF harder, have contempt for YOUR worldliness. Learn how to detach yourself from all worldly things which includes your pride, ego, material wealth, honors, and appetites, and this will give you an inner peace. As we learn from this book, this is the nuts and bolts of the interior life.

If your goal in this life is to be a saint, then this is one of the books you absolutely must read!

J
Joseph Raborg
A Book Worth Reading Many Times Over

I have read this book three times and am working through it a fourth time. Humility is the main virtue for Christians, and that is precisely what this book inculcates. (St. Augustine famously said that the three most important virtues for a Christian were "humility, humility, and humility.) G.K. Chesterton said that the main reason people read things is to be surprised. This book will surprise you with each reading, and maybe even each page the first time you read it.

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Amy
Amazing classic, but intended for monastics

I feel funny giving only four stars to such a great classic, but this work was written by monastics and for monastics. It's primarily for those who have a vocation to leave the world rather than laity with a more secular vocation. That does not mean it can't be an amazing boon for a lay person and many have testified to this, but for others it does not fit the bill. It's also one of the worst choices for anyone who suffers from scruples for similar reasons as above. For instance, he may advise being as quiet as possible, but that's not good advice for every lay person. Some people need to talk more and some people talk a moderate amount. So I'm giving it four stars due to it being overly recommended for too a broad audience...as if everyone has to read it and you're crazy if you don't like it!

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Nate Nobile
Timeless Wisdom

This book has renewed my spiritual life and has given me the formula to attain true humility and happiness.