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The Imitation of Christ

 

By Thomas á Kempis

 

• Foreword

• BOOK ONE: THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL

• 1. Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth

• 2. Having a Humble Opinion of Self

• 3. The Doctrine of Truth

• 4. Prudence in Action

• 5. Reading the Holy Scripture

• 6. Unbridled Affections

• 7. Avoiding False Hope and Pride

• 8. Shunning Over-Familiarity

• 9. Obedience and Subjection

• 10. Avoiding Idle Talk

• 11. Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Perfection

• 12. The Value of Adversity

• 13. Resisting Temptation

• 14. Avoiding Rash Judgment

• 15. Works Done in Charity

• 16. Bearing with the Faults of Others

• 17. Monastic Life

• 18. The Example Set Us by the Holy Fathers

• 19. The Practices of a Good Religious

• 20. The Love of Solitude and Silence

• 21. Sorrow of Heart

• 22. Thoughts on the Misery of Man

• 23. Thoughts on Death

• 24. Judgment and the Punishment of Sin

• 25. Zeal in Amending our Lives

• BOOK TWO: THE INTERIOR LIFE

• 1. Meditation

• 2. Humility

• 3. Goodness and Peace in Man

• 4. Purity of Mind and Unity of Purpose

• 5. Ourselves

• 6. The Joy of a Good Conscience

• 7. Loving Jesus Above All Things

• 8. The Intimate Friendship of Jesus

• 9. Wanting No Share in Comfort

• 10. Appreciating God's Grace

• 11. Few Love the Cross of Jesus

• 12. The Royal Road of the Holy Cross

• BOOK THREE: INTERNAL CONSOLATION

• 1. The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul

• 2. Truth Speaks Inwardly Without the Sound of Words

• 3. Listen Humbly to the Words of God. Many Do Not Heed Them

• 4. We Must Walk Before God in Humility and Truth

• 5. The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love

• 6. The Proving of a True Lover

• 7. Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility

• 8. Self-Abasement in the Sight of God

• 9. All Things should be Referred to God as their Last End

• 10. To Despise the World and Serve God is Sweet

• 11. The Longings of our Hearts Must Be Examined And Moderated

• 12. Acquiring Patience in the Fight Against Concupiscence

• 13. The Obedience of One Humbly Subject to the Example of Jesus Christ

• 14. Consider the Hidden Judgments of God Lest You Become Proud of Your Own Good Deeds

• 15. How One Should Feel and Speak on Every Desirable Thing

• 16. True Comfort Is to Be Sought in God Alone

• 17. All Our Care is to Be Placed in God

• 18. Temporal Sufferings Should Be Borne Patiently, After the Example of Christ

• 19. True Patience in Suffering

• 20. Confessing Our Weakness in the Miseries of Life

• 21. Above All Goods and All Gifts We Must Rest in God

• 22. Remember the Innumerable Gifts of God

• 23. Four Things Which Bring Great Peace

• 24. Avoiding Curious Inquiry About the Lives of Others

• 25. The Basis of Firm Peace of Heart and True Progress

• 26. The Excellence of a Free Mind, Gained Through Prayer Rather Than By Study

• 27. Self-Love is the Greatest Hindrance to the Highest Good

• 28. Strength Against Slander

• 29. How We Must Call Upon and Bless the Lord When Trouble Presses

• 30. The Quest of Divine Help and Confidence in Regaining Grace

• 31. To Find the Creator, Forsake All Creatures

• 32. Self-Denial and the Renunciation of Evil Appetites

• 33. Restlessness of Soul–Directing Our Final Intention Toward God

• 34. God is Sweet Above All Things and in All Things to Those Who Love Him

• 35. There is No Security from Temptation in This Life

• 36. The Vain Judgments of Men

• 37. Pure and Entire Resignation of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart

• 38. The Right Ordering of External Affairs; Recourse to God in Dangers

• 39. A Man Should Not Be Unduly Solicitous About His Affairs

• 40. Man Has No Good in Himself and Can Glory in Nothing

• 41. Contempt for All Earthly Honor

• 42. Peace is Not to Be Placed in Men

• 43. Beware Vain and Worldly Knowledge

• 44. Do Not Be Concerned About Outward Things

• 45. All Men Are Not to Be Believed, for It Is Easy to Err in Speech

• 46. Trust in God Against Slander

• 47. Every Trial Must Be Borne for the Sake of Eternal Life

• 48. The Day of Eternity and the Distresses of This Life

• 49. The Desire of Eternal Life; the Great Rewards Promised to Those Who Struggle

• 50. How a Desolate Person Ought to Commit Himself Into the Hands of God

• 51. When We Cannot Attain to the Highest, We Must Practice the Humble Works

• 52. A Man Ought Not to Consider Himself Worthy of Consolation, But Rather Deserving of Chastisement

• 53. God's Grace Is Not Given to the Earthly Minded

• 54. The Different Motions of Nature and Grace

• 55. The Corruption of Nature and the Efficacy of Divine Grace

• 56. We Ought to Deny Ourselves and Imitate Christ Through Bearing the Cross

• 57. A Man Should Not Be Too Downcast When He Falls Into Defects

• 58. High Matters and the Hidden Judgments of God Are Not to Be Scrutinized

• 59. All Hope and Trust Are to Be Fixed In God Alone

• BOOK FOUR: AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION

• 1. The Great Reverence With Which We Should Receive Christ

• 2. God's Great Goodness and Love is Shown to Man in This Sacrament

• 3. It Is Profitable to Receive Communion Often

• 4. Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily

• 5. The Dignity of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood

• 6. An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion

• 7. The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend

• 8. The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering

• 9. We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All

• 10. Do Not Lightly Forego Holy Communion

• 11. The Body of Christ and Sacred Scripture Are Most Necessary to a Faithful Soul

• 12. The Communicant Should Prepare Himself for Christ with Great Care

• 13. With All Her Heart the Devout Soul Should Desire Union with Christ in the Sacrament

• 14. The Ardent Longing of Devout Men for the Body of Christ

• 15. The Grace of Devotion is Acquired Through Humility and Self-Denial

• 16. We Should Show Our Needs to Christ and Ask His Grace

• 17. The Burning Love and Strong Desire to Receive Christ

• 18. Man Should Not Scrutinize This Sacrament in Curiosity, But Humbly Imitate Christ and Submit Reason to Holy Faith

• Scripture Index

• Footnotes

 

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