Imitation of Christ

"For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground." ~ (Locations 1125-29) In a world where prosperity gospel is preached without any shame, this book may require some serious contemplation. The idea of selling everything you own and then becoming a monk doesn't work for most people. So while this book was written for monks and the message is beautiful and healing, not all the ideas would work for say a person who is married or not fully committed to Christ in body and soul. Each chapter is quite short and the author makes his points succinctly. Thomas A. Kempis was a keen observer of life and points out many pitfalls for the spiritually minded. He encourages readers to get rid of worldly desires and explains that carnal men have no peace. He explains how having a lot of knowledge profits you little if you are not living a holy life. Thomas A. Kempis believed that you should have the mind of Christ in order to understand the words of Christ. This seems logical enough. However Thomas A. Kempis had a deep understanding of human nature and in this book he reveals how vulnerable we are and how we need to humbly admit our faults to God. "...true peace of heart is to be found in resisting passion, not in yielding to it." This book presents some very compelling arguments in favor of living a pure life. "Eternal Torments" are mentioned quite a few times. The main argument seems to be about how we should be able to resist temptation in this life as it will be much more difficult to endure eternal damnation. Thomas A. Kempis encourages the reader to focus on self-mastery and to unlearn evil habits. He especially encourages monks to fight against concupiscence. This advice might not work so well if you are married. One of the things I loved about this book is the many prayers presented throughout the book. To put it mildly, lukewarm spirituality is not encouraged. There is a sense that the person praying these prayers is giving their entire life to God. I felt that these prayers were some of the most beautiful I've ever read. This is a book that I will read again and again like a devotional book. It truly takes you through a variety of emotions from despair to elation. This book will show you how to have a penitent heart, filled with humbleness and the desire to commit more fully to a more spiritual life. ~The Rebecca Review A second reading of the Digireads version years later produced this review: Spiritual Guidance, Wisdom and Instructions on the Divine Life “The Imitation of Christ” is Thomas a Kempis' (1380-1471) most famous work and some say it is almost as popular as the Bible. The reason may be that many Christians were seeking the joy and peace Thomas Kempis had discovered because of his faith. He lived in trying times when there were many wars and the black plague was still killing a lot of people. Instead of being overly worried about life's challenges, Thomas Kempis said: “That the highest wisdom is to cast the world behind us and to reach forward to the heavenly kingdom.” This book reads like the most wise holy advice you could encounter. There is much discussion on how to be holy and humble instead of being proud. A lot of the book resonated with my own personal experience of loving God and what I've seen in others' lives, good or bad. While reading you have to remember that this book was originally written for monks and priests not married couples. So when he talks about not desiring human affection, that is not wrong in itself, but was a choice religious people have sometimes made in order to reach spiritual heights and rely on God alone. And when the author talks about “contempt of thyself” this seems to be more about getting angry at your sins not hating yourself. Self-esteem is important because we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. So God does not require us to hate ourselves. And there is one instance where the author talks about giving up your opinion for the opinion of others. I'm not sure Jesus ever did that! It may be kind to do it, but it could also end up being the wrong opinion in regards to good and evil. Also, for Protestants reading this Catholic book, Communion is an issue you have to deal with in this book. The sections read well but Protestants don't all believe that the bread and wine actually become Christ's body and blood. That is all at the end of the book so you can skip that section or believe as you will. Thomas Kempis writes with inspired authority as one who knows the truth and is unashamed. He says: “Oh, grievous folly, to neglect the things which are profitable and necessary, and to give our minds to things which are curious and hurtful! Having eyes, we see not.” Some of the topics this book covers include: inward consolation, man's judgment (why it is not important in the long run), avoiding gossip, how not to envy, renouncing the world, vain-glory, temptation, adversities, friendship, peace, avoiding having a carnal heart, self-mastery (one of the highest goals), grace, virtue, patience, rapture, purity, a happy death (what leads to it) and why we should avoid vain babbling. A lot of soul searching has to be done when reading about these topics. Throughout the book I never felt like Thomas Kempis was talking down to the reader. He seems more like a kind brother giving spiritual advice to those who really want to become more like Jesus. Some of this book is written so Jesus' real words are slipped into the text with no chapter and verse. This makes for easy reading and it flows nicely. The voice in this book changes constantly which makes for a interesting reading experience. In this book there are several prayers. The two I loved most were: A Prayer for Enlightenment of the Mind and A Prayer for Heavenly Wisdom. It did occur to me while reading that it would be a joy to meet someone who had read this book and had taken it to heart. How like Jesus that person would be. So if your heart longs to be closer to Jesus and have a relationship with him, this is a rare and beautiful experience. ~The Rebecca Review

Recently during some time off and a personal retreat I took, I was able to read through a classic work of much renown. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. Kempis was a German medieval Christian monk who was born in the late 14th century. His work “The Imitation of Christ” is one of the most widely read Christian spiritual books ever written and 2nd only to the Bible. The book presents the idea that the study of Christ’s life and the emulation of his example is the highest pursuit that man can achieve. Kempis’s “The Imitation of Christ” is a spiritual classic and considered by many to be a must read for any follower of Christ. There are many variations of this book so choosing a translation that reads well can be challenging. Personally I used the edition that went along with the audible edition. This way I could read and/or listen while reflecting. (See Featured Image for audio edition used). The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis itself is a work of meditation; it could take a many years to process fully through and is a resource to which returning thoughtfully and prayerfully makes more sense of the author’s intention in writing it. It has, however, an internal logic of its own; it comprises 114 chapters in four books. In it we are called to imitate the way of Christ, to learn from his life and virtues so that we in turn might reflect them to others. ‘Let us make it, then, our constant practice to meditate upon the life of Christ’ As Kemsis himself once wrote; ‘Do not be influenced by the importance of the writer, and whether his learning be great or small; but let love of pure truth draw you to read. Do not inquire, “Who said this?” but pay attention to what is said’. The Imitation of Christ is not just one book; it is a collection of resources now compiled into one book. The Imitation includes four books that vary in both length (book two has only 12 chapters, and book three has 59) and themes. Book one contains “useful reminders for the spiritual life.” Book two contains “suggestions drawing one toward the inner life.” Book three includes advice “of inner comfort.” And book four is “the book on the sacrament.” Books one and two are full of practical and straightforward advice for spiritual growth. For example, Thomas has no patience with the vanities of this world (including things as simple as self-praise), and asserts that spiritual progress is possible here on earth. Thomas admonishes, “by working a little now, you will find great rest later” (p. 30). Such work includes patiently enduring suffering, which is crucial to spiritual progress. That patience includes putting up with others’ faults — a practice equally appropriate in a medieval monastery or a modern business office. Books three and four take a new tone. Instead of practical advice, these books offer an exchange of intimate words between Jesus and an unnamed disciple. Sometimes these exchanges read like a worshipful prayer and response, and other times the content reads like a simple dialogue. It is believed that the unnamed disciple in this dialogue is Kempis himself and that this dialogue is his own conversation with God. Sometimes called the Devotio Moderno, the adepts of the movement stressed the inner life of the individual, an emphasis which the Church has not always encouraged.

This is a really good book. Now the is one is in very small print so I had to buy one in a bigger print. But I highly recommend everyone to read this book. If you can’t read small print I would look for it in bigger print. I will carry this one in my purse to read highlighted parts when need a reminder or give to someone

This is the best book that I have ever bought outside of the Bible. I can see why it is the best selling religious book outside of the Bible (quote from another site). The book is hardbound and the picture does not do it justice at all. I will make some new pictures of it for people this weekend. The book is a perfect size for taking with you to places to read. The printing quality and binding are as good as any book that I have from what I can tell. I never heard of this book until I did a lot of searching. Most people that I know have never heard of it either. It just goes to show that not a lot of people are really trying to imitate Christ. They say they are if you ask them, but in my opinion, if they do not know about this book then they really aren't. But, maybe I am wrong. I know that for me, it hits me to the very core every time I read it. It says things that to other seem to not make sense until you actually practice it. Here is an example, "One person has said: "As often as I have been among others, I have returned less a man." We know this from experience when we talk too long. It is easier to remain silent than not to say too much when we speak" Wonderful isn't it? This book is the book that tells you how to be able to do what God asks us to do. I used to ask people, even priests, "I have a hard time loving my neighbor, how do I love my neighbor as myself. And how can I even begin to love my enemies?" Of all the people that I asked this question only this book and Bishop Fulton Sheen were able to begin to tell me how to actually start doing this. You know that you should, we all do, but how do you do it? How can you do it? The answer begins with loving God first. Remember that when Christ say to love your neighbor as yourself that he first said to love God above all else. That is the beginning of the answer, to love God above all else. Begin to truly do that, and then you can begin to start to love your neighbor. How, it is because when you truly begin to love God above all else, then you begin to see God in other people. Then you can love them when you first love God above all else. They are linked and cannot be separated. First, love God, then you can begin to learn to love your neighbor. It is this book that helped me to begin the long process of learning this lesson. I cannot stress enough how much this book is changing my life when I allow it too. For many years I have asked, how do I do this? Why can I not be better? How do I truly begin to be a Christian? The Bible, and this book, and the audio files of Bishop Fulton Sheen (and the books of as well) are what is getting me to where I need to be better than anything else or anyone else that I have ever listened to or read. If you truly want to start being happy and stop running from the hound of Heaven then get this book. If you are anything like me, then you will value it more than solid gold one hundred times the weight. It is that good and is changing me for the better that much. If you ask a priest your questions and his answers leave you wanting, then get this book. It was written I think over 500 years ago and it is still in print by many publishers and I certainly hope that it will still be in print when our Lord returns.

This is an excellent , easy to read, enlightening book for everyday use and faith building. Highly recommend!

Doing a Bible study and this book was the topic. The book is small. It’s fine when using along w a verbal reading, but the print is extremely small so even with cheaters, it’s difficult. Also note, it’s in its original form, so it’s tougher to decipher. Doesn’t bother me, but others may care.

A good read

I absolutely love this translation. Flows so well and so easy to understand without losing the weight. Book has some nice extra features, but mostly I like the translation, having a good print size and still a small book, appears to be very well-made and feels durable. FYI swami Vivekananda carried a copy of the imitation of Christ with him at all times along with a copy of the Bhagavad Gita.

This book contains hard truths that will change the way we look at ourselves. It is the only book, apart from the Bible, that speaks directly to our hearts. If you are going thru the battlefield of your mind, this is the Book for you! It has taught me so much about who God is and it has definitely taught me about humility. I now view life differently, in a good spiritual way, than ever before. This book teaches us to be less of this world. A good sized book with comfortable, readable fonts. Highly recommend!

When I began reading this classic a few months ago, it was for the first time, and I found myself utterly perplexed that I hadn’t read it earlier in life, particularly as I have known of its existence for decades. This edition makes the language accessible, the chapter lengths mean they can be used as a daily reading, and the depth of wisdom and meaning has impacted the ground of my soul. I am grateful that by God’s grace He has brought Thomas a Kempis to my attention. I heartily recommend it to anyone on the journey with Jesus, it will make it that much closer to Him.

Different cover but totally fine. Lightweight and easy to carry around! Love this book, reading it in the mornings everyday.

My Go-to 15min daily spiritual reading/lectio divina. This book has helped me to get closer to Jesus Christ and understand the scriptures in the simplest way. I admire the author who wrote this book. May God bless us all

I was skeptical at first, but I quickly realised that this Book is packed with the convicting, edifying and comforting truth of God. Everyone can benefit from this book, regardless of doctrine or denomination. Book Quality - (publisher - Word of Christ) Great quality paper, easy to read translation, good font, great price (Rs120) Book Quality - (publisher - Penguin) Worse in every aspect compared to above publisher. Go for the Rs 120 Word of Christ version of this book. Note - I cannot comment on quality of the translation. But the style of the Word of Christ version is simpler than the penguin version.