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Loading... The Imitation of Christ (original 1418; edition 1984)by Thomas à Kempis
Work InformationThe Imitation of Christ by Thomas von Kempen (1418) » 7 more Loading...
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Preventing the Worldliness of the Church: "Imitação de Cristo" by Tomás de Kempis (transl. and annotated by Monsignor Manuel Martinho) Imitação de Cristo" by Tomás de Kempis (transl. and annotated by Monsignor Manuel Martinho) Thomas de Kempis found a fertile field to write the "The Imitation of Christ" providing practical guidelines for the life of the believer. The book is divided into independent chapters, that is, each has a beginning, middle and end, so it can be read autonomously. This justifies the traditional custom of saying a prayer and opening the book at random. Its characteristic is to put the believer in contact with Christ, helping him in his conversion process, which requires a break up with the world of mundane affairs. It is precisely at this point that the work is criticized, because the separation from the world that it suggests makes it labeled individualistic, that is, with a disincarnated spirituality, outside the real world. Far from the truth! It is possible to overcome this obstacle, this side effect of such an excellent remedy, remembering that the book was written for monks, that is, people who already lived apart from the world. To do so, just adapt it on day-to-day basis. In spite of this, it is still a book of extraordinary importance, since in these current times when many in the Church itself embrace the worldly mentality, "The Imitation of Christ" puts things in a Christocentric perspective. The centrality in Our Lord Jesus Christ, the break with the world and with sin, in a spirituality that engages the person through the heart and makes him live for what really matters: Heaven. The book is divided into four major sections, the first two introducing the reader to spiritual life. The third part is a dialogue between Christ and the soul. It is a devotional, and meditative part (my favourite). The fourth part refers to the Eucharist, teaching how to receive it, adore it and how to approach it properly. "Imitation of Christ" should be on every Catholic's bedside. It is a valid stance, especially at a time when the Church, instead of being a missionary and evangelizing the world, is just being "evangelized" by it. "The Imitation of Christ" can undoubtedly help to prevent the worldliness of the Church and of each one of us. NB: I own the 18th edition (1947) in Portuguese (vide photo above), translated and annotated by Monsignor Manuel Martinho (from Latin into Portuguese). The prose is beautiful, but the content of this book? That is another matter altogether, particularly in the third section, when much of the content purports to be from the mouth of Christ. As a Christian within the Reformed tradition and confessionally holding to the Three Forms of Unity it was at this point the book went out-of-bound theologically. Do you want to imitate Christ as you live by faith? Then read the Bible and read the Puritans, for their writings contain many of the same general ideas but they do so with frequent scripture references and they never claim to be putting words into the mouth of our Savior that were not placed by His Spirit into the Bible. The text is divided into four books, which provide detailed spiritual instructions: "Helpful Counsels of the Spiritual Life", "Directives for the Interior Life", "On Interior Consolation" and "On the Blessed Sacrament". The approach taken in the Imitation is characterized by its emphasis on the interior life and withdrawal from the world, as opposed to an active imitation of Christ by other friars.[1] The book places a high level of emphasis on the devotion to the Eucharist as key element of spiritual life no reviews | add a review
Belongs to Publisher SeriesIs contained inThe Harvard Classics [50 Volume Set] by Charles William Eliot (indirect) Wellsprings of Faith: The Imitation of Christ; The Dark Night of the Soul; The Interior Castle by Thomas a Kempis ContainsIs abridged inInspiredHas as a studyHas as a supplementHas as a commentary on the text
First published anonymously in 1418, Thomas à Kempis's The Imitation of Christ is a classic Christian devotional work that has been read through the ages by such notable figures as Sir Thomas More, John Wesley, and Pope John Paul I. A meditation on spiritual life, it offers instructions for renouncing worldly vanity and discovering eternal truths with the goal of living out the teachings of Jesus by taking inspiration from his life. More widely read and more influential than any spiritual work except the Bible, The Imitation of Christ has offered guidance and solace to people of all faiths since its publication and retains its power today. This edition is the translation by the Reverend William Benham. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)242Religions Christian Devotional Literature and Practical Theology Devotional Literature (Meditations + Contemplation)LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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Though this doesn’t sound much like an imitation of Christ to me, not the Christ I understand, the book, or at least the first two of the four “books” that make it up anyway, is interesting and not without useful advice that would move the reader closer to a Christ like attitude, or one could also say to a Buddhist like one, given that there are some strong similarities.
It strongly emphasizes being humble, never thinking yourself better than even someone you despise. You may be acting well now, but that’s not likely to always be true. “No harm, if you think of all the world as your betters; what does do a great deal of harm is to compare yourself favorably to a single living soul. To be humble is to enjoy undisturbed peace of mind, while the proud heart is swept by gusts of envy and resentment.” His advice on critiquing others: “Yes, you do well to cultivate patience with the shortcomings, the various disabilities of other people; only think how much they have to put up with in you! We like to have everybody around us quite perfect, but our own faults - we never seem to correct them.”
We cling much too much to our possessions, our wealth, when these things cannot make us happy and indeed cause us anxiety as we fear their loss. Plenty of people have “weak, flabby natures, that are always complaining, ‘Look at So-and-so; what a good time he has! How rich, how important he is; what influence and rank he enjoys!’ But in reality, if you take one look at the prizes of heaven, you will see that all these earthly ones count for nothing; if anything, it is a weight on our minds, the precarious possession of them, a constant source of anxiety and alarm. Man’s happiness doesn’t consist in having more earthly possessions than he knows what to do with... The higher a man’s spiritual aims, the more distasteful does our present life appear to him.”
How’s this for a practice: “Morning is the time for making resolutions; when evening comes, analyse your past behavior - what sort of person have you been today? What have you said, or done; what have been your thoughts? In any of these ways, you may have offended God and your neighbor oftener than you knew.”
And so on. Good advice in the context of an overall too misanthropic and isolationist a worldview. The second two books are a shift in style, taking the form of a sort of dialogue between God and the soul. Very flowery prose, much wordier, more decorative, often liturgical styling. Didn’t find these terribly interesting. ( )