After Craig's review, I add Amen; yet I've read It since 1955

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	• The Imitation of Christ (An Image Classic) Thomas à Kempis Image, 1955 - 240 pages average customer review:based on 70 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

After Craig's review, I add Amen; yet I've read It since 1955

From years in Southern Seminary, when Glenn Hinson introduced us to Devotinal Classics, Catholic Book Publishers had not printed their elite 1977 version! The new Foreword advises one, "As you thoughtfully and prayerfully read this book, turn pages slowly and allow the wisdom to penetrate your inner self." This gave me new insights after 55 or 60 years of devotional readings!

Chapters entitled: "On following Christ our Model; On having a Humble Opinon of oneself; On being Prudent in what we accept and do; On the reading of Holy Scripture!" Into 7 of "First Book of Useful Admonitions for A Spiritual Life," I have underlined 7 sentences: "It is not good to be taken in by every word//impulse that comes our way, but consider the things prudently and thoughtfully in order not to offend God... It is good that everything is not always to our liking; for adversity makes people look into their hearts in order to realize that they are exiles and must not put their hopes in any worldly thing. It is good for us to run into opposition... even when our intentions are good." These are sketchs of a few main ideas!

Altho we do not easily or kindly take advise, these are surely valuable and thought provoking words of admonititon! From a well-seasoned reader of Devotional Classics, Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood, "Barbara377" (Fayetteville, GA United States)

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Sanctuary

True spirituality transcends the differences in religious traditions; as a devotee of Krishna, I delight in Thomas a Kempis and his Imitation of Christ. I dip into it almost daily. For anyone who seriously wants to purify her life and attain the tranquillity and joy of unalloyed love of God, this book is a treasure.

Thomas a Kempis writes from his own deep realisation and conviction and just by reading a few lines, you enter his atmosphere of devotion. It's difficult enough practising spiritual life in these times and this book is an invaluable help. Readers of this book may also like The Nectar of Instruction by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami.

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The Simple Life

Life today is complex and chaotic. Of The Imitation of Christ is a refreshing antidote to modern day living, although it offers timeless spiritual truths. It simplifies spiritual truths which may be buried under layers of modern day secularism and worldliness. Highly recommended.

Christian Devotional Classic

The Imitation of Christ is, after the Bible, the most widely-read Christian book in history, and deservedly so. It is a treasure-chest of Christian wisdom and truth. I picked it up after reading a book on the 17th-century French missionaries to the New World. Among the meager possessions they took with them into the wilderness were two books - the Bible and the Imitation. I considered that to be a fairly compelling recommendation, and I was not disappointed.

Thomas a Kempis, in the Imitation, gives us wisdom for living the Christian life that is extremely challenging. More than once as I read through it, I found myself squirming in my seat as Thomas brought the truth to bear, uncomfortably close to where I live. A few brief samples:

"It is a hard thing to leave evil customs and it is harder to break our own will, but it is most hard forever to lie in pain and forever to lose the joys of heaven." (bk. 1, ch. 11)

"If you had a good conscience, you would not fear death so much, and it would be better for you to abandon sin than to fear death." (bk. 1, ch. 23)

"[H]e is not truly patient who will suffer only as much as he pleases, or from whom he pleases." (bk. 3, ch. 19)

"All is not lost, though some things happen contrary to your will." (bk. 3, ch. 30)

We have here the mind and heart of a wise old monk, who has struggled through to "the peaceable fruit of righteousness". He has no illusions about his own (or his readers') human nature; he knows how difficult is the challenge of living a Christian life. And yet, he also knows something of the rewards for whatever success he has had at it. Above all, he has learned humility, and the challenge of his experience can help us follow in the way of Christ. The Imitation struck me as a kind of medieval Christian Book of Proverbs, and it affected me similarly.

I will leave the reader with one more quote to show something of the character of this wonderful little book:

"Do not let [another] speak to me, therefore, but you, my Lord Jesus, ... lest perhaps I die and be made like a man without fruit, warmed from without, but not inflamed within, and so receive the harder judgment, because I have heard your word and not done it, known it and not loved it, believed it and not fulfilled it." (bk. 3, ch. 2)

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A great devotional for all Christians!

Thomas a' Kempis wrote "The Imitation of Christ" primarily for monks, encouraging them to live a Christ-like life in the monastery.
Yet so much of this great book applies to every Christian, of all ages, no matter what stage of the journey the Christian is in.

Kempis utilizes copious amounts of passages from the Bible to drive home his points. He stresses humility and an utter denial of self. This, he says, are the purest ways of getting closer to our Savior.

I found Kempis' book to be quite inspirational throughout, and a comforting reminder that this world is not our home; we are not to love this earth. Our home, our eternal destination, is yet to be seen and experienced!

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reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, page 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

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