Like the classic itself, imitation ofchrist for children is divided into four sections or chapters, taking the reader on a stepbystep journey. Jan 20, 2012 born in germany around 80 and died in the netherlands in 1471, thomas a kempis is one of the most well known medieval catholic devotional writers. Theories most popular at the moment ascribe the imitation to two or three men, members of the brethren of the common life, an association of priests organized. Perhaps the how to should include how to live with others, with oneself, and with christ at all times. She reads a chapter of the imitation of christ every night before sleep. The first edition of the novel was published in 1418, and was written by thomas a kempis.
Book 3, chapters 3140 of the imitation of christ by. Thomas wrote a number of sermons, letters, hymns, and information about the lives of the saints. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Your tardiness in turning to prayer is the greatest obstacle to heavenly consolation, for before you pray earnestly to me you first seek many comforts and take pleasure in outward things. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis home facebook. Oct 03, 2016 perhaps the strongest point of kempis text is its strong sense of humility and the drive for the christian to be more christlike. Free traditional catholic books catholic tradition. Written in latin in the early 15th century, the imitation of christ is perhaps second only to the bible in importance in christian thought. One of the bestloved books of christianity after the bible, now in a new translation a passionate celebration of god and his love, mercy, and holiness, the imitation of christ has inspired conversion and stimulated religious devotion for more than five hundred years. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub, pdf, azw, mobi and more.
It has been acclaimed as one of the greatest spiritual writings of all time. For five hundred years, this gentle book, filled with the spirit of the love of god, has brought understanding and comfort to millions of readers in over fifty languages, and provided them with a source of heartfelt personal prayer. The core message of the work is humility, and for christians to shut out the world and deny himself. The imitation of christ, free pdf, ebook global grey. Imitating christ and despising all vanities on earth. The imitation became, and has remained, after the bible, the most. Doctrinal, early works, imitation of jesus christ, jesus christ, imitatio christi, quotations. It is said that thomas s book has been the most read of any book other than the bible.
It is a handbook for spiritual life arising from the devotio moderna movement, where kempis was a member. Kempis has many bits of advice and words of wisdom for molding ones life to more closely reflect christs, the problem with this is that it seems to come at the expense of the gospel. Kempis the imitation of christ, which first appeared in the late fifteenth century, has without exaggeration been called the most widely read work of devotion ever written. The book has been deeply influential and highly revered for more than 500 years. Imitating christ and despising all vanities on earth 2. This 114 page pdf document is filled with wisdom on seeking god, even through difficulty and suffering. His imitation of christ, composed in latin in the netherlands between 1420 and 1427 has become a classic favorite to many. The imitation of christ by thomas i kempis, paperback. The monastic order had been founded eighteen years earlier by gerard groote1, a lay.
His classic the imitation of christ has long been a favorite of christians of all denominational backgrounds. Ignatius loyola to thomas merton and pope john paul i. Thomas a kempis whether you are seeking representing the ebook by thomas a kempis the imitation of christ vintage spiritual classics rev sub 22298 by thomas a kempis in pdf appearance, in that condition you approach onto the equitable site. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis download. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis free online ebook. His most wellknown work is the imitation of christ.
As editor and translator he was not without faults, but thanks to him the. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis free ebook. That thomas hemerken of kempen, or thomas a kempis as he is now known, later translated a composite of their writings, essentially a spiritual diary, from the original netherlandish into latin is generally admitted by scholars. Ignatius, thomas merton, thomas more, and even agatha christies miss marple. The life of christ is presented as the highest study possible to a mortal, as jesus teachings far excel all the teachings of the saints. It is often good for us to have others know our faults and rebuke them, for it gives us greater humility. These are christ s own words by which he exhorts us to imitate his life and his ways p. 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. The imitation of christ kindle edition by thomas a kempis.
Imitation has exerted immense influence on christian worship, ethics, and church structure, because it gives specific yet broadminded guidance about. The most famous of his works by far is the imitation of christ, a charming instruction on how to love god. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis january 17, 2017 two things particularly further improvementto withdraw oneself forcibly from those vices to which nature is viciously inclined, and to work fervently for those graces which are most needed. Page numbers below refer to thomas a kempis, the imitation of christ. It is a handbook for spiritual life arising from the devotio moderna movement, of which kempis was a member the imitation is perhaps the most widely read christian devotional work next to the bible, and is regarded as a devotional and religious classic. This small book, free from intellectual pretensions. His books include the wellknown imitation of christ, life of geert groote, and life of liduina of schiedam, the latter of which he epitomized. At the age of thirteen years, he left his family to join his older brother, john, who had ten or twelve years earlier traveled to. Book 3, chapters 3140 of the imitation of christ by thomas a. The imitation of christ thomas a kempis pdf, epub, kindle. Creasys a new reading of the 1441 latin autograph manuscript provides both scholarly and.
A librivox recording of the imitation of christ, by thomas a kempis, translated by rev. Paulist press the timeless moral teachings of one of the greatest spiritual works ever written, imitation of christ by thomas a kempis, is presented for the first time in an interesting and easytounderstand manner for young catholic readers. The imitation of christ is a christian devotional book. Thomas a kempis was a german medieval christian monk who was born in the late 14th century. The imitation of christ, by thomas a kempis book 1. This spiritual diary has encouraged followers of christ for hundreds of years to develop a deep, abiding love for christ. Table of contents introductory note the first book admonitions profitable for the spiritual life chapter i of the imitation of christ, and of contempt of the world and all its vanities chapter ii of thinking humbly of oneself chapter iii of the knowledge of. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 288 pages and is available in paperback format. He focused on human unworthiness, self denial and mortification of the flesh, and the meaning of disciple of christ. He reflected the mystical spirituality of his times, the sense of being absorbed in god. Thomas a kempiss imitation of christ is an old book that deserves a new reading, and william c.
Thomas a kempis quotes author of the imitation of christ. Let it be our most earnest study, therefore, to dwell upon the life of jesus christ. See all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The first two were founders of the brethren of the common life, a lay religious society that flourished in the netherlands from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century. Introductory note the treatise of the imitation of christ appears to have been originally written in latin early in the fifteenth century. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis table of contents. The imitation of christ was written or at a minimum, transcribed by catholic monk thomas kempis circa 801471, as four separate books completed between 1420 and 1427, at mount saint agnes monastery, in the town of windesheim, located in what is now the netherlands. Thomas a kempis urges christlikeness christian history. His teaching surpasseth all teaching of holy men, and such as have his spirit. Imitation of christ thomas at kempis pdf afrikhepri. A number of his treatises on the monastic life and little devotional essays have been translated into english including the great devotional work the imitation of christ. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis is a christian devotional book first composed in latin about 1427.
Free download or read online the imitation of christ pdf epub book. Peace is ever with the humble man, but in the heart of the proud there is envy and continual wrath. The imitation of christ is widely considered one of the greatest manuals of devotion in christianity. Whether you are seeking representing the ebook by thomas a kempis the imitation of christ vintage spiritual classics rev sub 22298 by thomas a kempis in pdf appearance, in that condition you approach onto the equitable site. The imitation is perhaps the most widely read devotional work next to the bible, and is regarded as a devotional and religious classic.
He also possessed an earnest love for the poor and holy scripture. Imitation of christ for children elizabeth ficocelli. Thomas hemerken, aka thomas kempis 801471, was a christian monk and mystic. These meditations on the life and teachings of jesus, written in times. Pdf the imitation of christ book by thomas a kempis free.
Gerard groote, florent radewijns, and thomas a kempis. The imitation of christ, image books, 1955 thomas a kempis was born in kempen, prussia in 79 into a family of artisans and metal workers. This meditation on the spiritual life has inspired readers from thomas more and st. This work was composed during 14181427 penguin books, london, 1952 this edition was translated. Only the bible has been more influential as a source of christian devotional reading than the imitation of christ. It encourages us to live a life devoid of worldly vanities and, in the words of st. Nov 22, 2010 download this christian classic by thomas a kempis and share it with your leadership team. Written in the 15th century, the imitation of christ was the second most printed book in that time period and only came in second to the bible. We represent the dead change of this ebook in txt, djvu, epub, pdf, physician arrangement. Thomas a kempis urges christlikeness give christ his place then, but deny entrance to all others. Thomas a kempis was a late medieval monk that underwent a monastic life.
Its exact date and its authorship are still a matter of debate. Thomas a kempis 79801471 was a member of the brethren, priest, augustinian monk, author of a dozen books, and copyist extraordinaire. Paul, to put on christ that is, to imitate christ, in order to find peace and fulfillment. Samuel johnson once remarked to bowell that it must be a good book, as the world has opened its arms to receive it. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis free ebook manybooks. It is a handbook for spiritual life arising from the devotio moderna movement, of which kempis was a member. It is his edition that is the imitation of christ thomas, a kempis. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis translated by rev. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis is a devotional classic for protestants and catholics that has brought comfort to millions for centuries. My child, i am the lord who gives strength in the day of trouble.
The imitation of christ by a kempis thomas free ebook. His work the imitation of christ is one of the most widely read christian spiritual books ever written. The imitation of christ has appeared in more editions and in more languages than any other book except the bible. His wellloved work, the imitation of christ, was written between 1420 and 1427 presumably as four booklets intended to instruct the novices of his community. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis cyber library. The book is a collection of recommendations for how to live ones life daytoday in.
First published anonymously in 1418, thomas a 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. The imitation of christ, which first appeared in the late fifteenth century, has without exaggeration been called the most widely read work of devotion ever written. His meditation on spiritual life and zeal to imitate christ in. His parents, john and gertrude haemerken, were of the artisan class. The imitation of christ is a devotional that is held in extremely high regard particularly in catholicism. Netherlands in the latter half of the fourteenth century. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis, paperback. The school he attended at nearby deventer in holland had been started by gerard groote, founder of the brothers of the common life. He attended deventer in the netherlands where he eventually joined the canons and was later ordained as a priest. A member of the brothers of the common life, he was ordained a priest in 14.
The catholic archive thomas a kempis the imitation of christ book 1 the imitation of christ book one in the life of the soul. Sep, 2012 thomas a kempis was a late medieval monk that underwent a monastic life. Thomas a kempis became a monk in 14 and spent his days studying the bible, writing, and copying the bible for others. These meditations on the life and teachings of jesus, written in.
The main characters of this classics, non fiction story are. Jun 14, 2017 divided into 4 sections, kempis outlines a lifestyle that withdraws from the world. 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. Like the three previous classics of monastic literature, the imitation of christ is a guide to changing our lives and learning to grow closer to christ in spirit and in deeds. Thomas a kempis died on the twentyfifth of july, 1471. By these words of christ, we are exhorted to imitate his life and his habits, if we wish to be truly.
He lived at and was a member of the windesheim congregation at agneitenberg monastery in the netherlands for more than seventy years. His meditation on spiritual life and zeal to imitate christ in this work will open our eyes and nourish our soul. It also discusses the importance of the sacrament of eucharist. The imitation of christ consists of four books with short chapters in each book.