The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis

The Imitation of Christ has appeared in more editions and in more languages than any other book except the Bible. Samuel Johnson once remarked to Bowell that it “must be a good book, as the world has opened its arms to receive it.” Others have praised it as well, including Thomas Carlyle, George Eliot, Thomas De Quincey, and Matthew Arnold. Among the religious, St. Ignatius Loyola translated it, and Pope John Paul I was said to have been reading it the night that he died. It has been standard fare in religious training and personal devotion for centuries. Yet today, few people know the Imitation and those who do more often than not think it hopelessly out of date, a pre-Vatican II relic, full of contempt for the world and self-loathing. It is a curious state of affairs, and one that reveals more about a contemporary audience's response to the book than it does about the book itself. When a contemporary reader encounters a line such as “this is the highest wisdom: through contempt of the world to aspire to the kingdom of heaven,” his response is a very different one from that of a fifteenth- or nineteenth-century reader. For an “uninformed response” (as Stanley Fish would say) to the contemptus mundi theme, the reader must draw deeply on a vast complex of literary, linguistic, historical, and theological knowledge. Creasy's translation of the Imitation strives to recreate a text that provides an analogous experience to that of the fifteenth-century reader. Relying heavily on reader-response theory, he incorporates an “informed reader's” response into the text itself. Where possible, the text echoes both the deep structure and the surface structure of the Latin—even to the point of replicating sentence structures and rhetorical devices while avoiding any distortion of the reader's experience. Although the language and style of his translation has been crafted for modern readers, the fervor and power of the original text have not been lost. This translation will undoubtedly bring The Imitation of Christ a new generation of readers.

---

The Imitation of Christ

After more than 500 years of popularity, this classic treasure on prayer, devotion, and communion still aids believers in cultivating the riches of the inner life with God.

---

The Imitation of Christ

---

The Imitation of Christ

If you want to think—and live—like Jesus, join the millions of people who’ve read The Imitation of Christ over the past five centuries. This devotional classic by Thomas à Kempis, first published in 1472, has been lightly abridged and edited for ease of modern readers. Addressing the spiritual life, our thoughts, God’s consolation, and the act of Communion, à Kempis’s classic offers clarity and comfort, peace and joy to believers of any age or background. Drawing from nearly a thousand Bible texts, The Imitation of Christ explains both why and how we should be like Jesus.

---

Of the Imitation of Christ

---

Of the Imitation of Christ

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.

---

The Imitation of Christ

This classic of Christian devotional literature has brought understanding and comfort to millions for centuries. Both Protestants and Catholics - as well as mystics and historians of religious thought - have studied these meditations on the life and teachings of Jesus, finding in them a path to prayer and spiritual guidance. Written in a candid and conversational style, The Imitation of Christ discusses liberation from worldly inclinations, recollection as a preparation for prayer, the consolations of prayer, and the place of eucharistic communion in a devout life. With its simple, readable text, this translation will appeal to new readers as well as to those already familiar with this religious classic.

---

The Confessions of St Augustine The Imitation of Christ

Contents: The Confessions of St. Augustine, with introduction, and notes.

---

Of the Imitation of Christ

---

The Imitation of Christ Theme in the Cultural ethical Ideal of Herman Bavinck

---

The Imitation of Christ Book II

Book II: Admonitions Concerning Interior Things.Thomas a'Kempis advises those who want to follow Jesus to go deeper by clearing out space within themselves to find friendship with Jesus. That friendship requires an emptying of self and an acceptance of our own cross, which we carry alongside and behind His Cross.The fictional narrative shows the reader the personal journal of Thomas, and the visitation of the Black Plague upon his monastery and village in 1421. Thomas' encounter with suffering and death take him to a confrontation that defies reality and forces him to see himself through the eyes of his mentor and then through the eyes of Christ Himself. Moore's fictional narrative sets up the writing of Book II of this Devotional Classic. Moore holds up a mirror to the twenty-first century to that of the fifteenth century, drawing parallels to our own calamitous times.Second only to the Bible in its popularity, The Imitation of Christ takes the Disciple through the path which Chris asks us to walk. These admonitions take us deep into our interior life. We should retreat into our interior rooms and make space for Christ. The Novice Master takes us to the next level of our relationship with Jesus.This edition of The Imitation of Christ, with comments and highlights by Tim Moore, invite the reader to an overview of each chapter and application of each meditation. Moore provides a short, fictional narrative from the point of view of Thomas, which places the reader into the mind of the Novice Master as he composes his masterwork. You can follow Tim's comments and edits through his web site at timothyedmoore.com.

---

The Imitation of Christ

---

Of the Imitation of Christ

---

Of the Imitation of Christ in four books By Thomas Kempis

---

Bringing the Imitation of Christ Into the 21st Century

A contemporary adaptation of the controversial "The Imitation of Christ", by Thomas Kempis, this book keeps the essential elements of the classic work, while modifying or opposing those time-bound aspects that have been responsible for its rejection.

---

Of the imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis tr by F A Paley

---

Of the imitation of Christ in four books by Thomas Kempis New transl

---

Thomas Kempis and the Imitation of Christ With Portrait

---

Of the Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis Tr by F A Paley

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

---

The Imitation of Christ

---