Thomas a’Kempis advises those who want to follow Jesus to set aside their worldly attachments and vanity in favor of the Cross of humility and poverty. Thomas’ masterpiece, The Imitation of Christ, is second only to the Bible in its popularity in Christendom. In Book One of the four books, Thomas offers practical, simple steps toward following the path of Christ. These “admonitions” are maxims and aphorisms grounded in his experience as the Novice Master of new disciples entering the Monastery.
This edition of The Imitation of Christ, with comments and insights by Timothy E. Moore, invite the reader to a quick overview of each chapter and a modern application of each meditation. Moore also 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 master work. You can follow Tim’s comments and edits through his web site at timothyedmoore.com.
Thomas a’Kempis wrote The Imitation of Christ in the early 15th century. He was a monk and priest who became a prolific writer and copyist, as well as the Novice Master of his monastery. He lived to be 91 years old, and hand-copied the entire Bible at least four times. He has great wisdom to share with us in our path to following Christ.
From Dr. Kevin Vost, Kevin Vost, Psy.D., Author of The One-Minute Aquinas and The Catholic Guide to Loneliness.
How could Thomas a' Kempis's masterpiece, The Imitation of Christ, possibly be improved? Just ask Tim Moore, or better yet, read his new edition.
The fruit of many years of immersion in this spiritual classic, Tim has opened up its pages to a new generation of readers (and to us old ones as well),
with an accessible, yet reverent and beautiful new translation, plenty of aids to the reader like brief commentaries and summaries, appendices
with key questions, quotations, prayers, and my own favorite feature, a fictionalized, but historically accurate narrative that will bring Thomas and
his message alive in new and exciting ways, inspiring us all to strive to more fully imitate Christ in the daily acts of our own lives.
Thomas a Kempis (1380 - 1471)
Was a canon regular of the late medieval period and the most probable author of The Imitation of Christ, which is one of the best known Christian books on devotion. His name means "Thomas of Kempen", his hometown, and in German he is known as Thomas von Kempen. He also is known by various spellings of his family name: Thomas Haemerken; Thomas Hammerlein; Thomas Hemerken and Thomas Hämerken.His first tenure of office as subprior was interrupted by the exile of the community from Agnetenberg (1429). A dispute had arisen in connection with an appointment to the vacant See of Utrecht. Pope Martin V rejected the nomination of Bishop-elect Rudolf van Diepholt, and imposed an interdict. The Canons remained in exile in observance of the interdict until the question was settled (1432). During this time, Thomas was sent to Arnhem to care for his ailing brother. He remained there until his brother died November, 1432. Thomas spent his time between devotional exercises, composition, and copying. He copied the Bible no fewer than four times,[3] one of the copies being preserved at Darmstadt, Germany in five volumes. In its teachings he was widely read and his works abound in Biblical quotations, especially from the New Testament.
Thomas a Kempis was a late Medieval Catholic monk and probable author of The Imitation of Christ, one of the best known Christian books on devotion.
His writings are all of a devotional character and include tracts and meditations, letters, sermons, a life of Saint Lydewigis, a Christian woman who remained steadfast under a great stress of afflictions, and biographies of Groote, Radewijns, and nine of their companions. Works similar in content to the Imitation of Christ, and pervaded by the same spirit, are his prolonged meditation on the life and blessings of the Savior and another on the Incarnation. Both of these works overflow with adoration for Christ.
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