The Imitation of Christ is a Devotional that is held in extremely high regard particularly in Catholicism. The book is a collection of recommendations for how to live one's life day-to-day in service of God and follow the morals of the Bible. It is separated into four primary sections, each of which has many smaller chapters.The first of the four sections is titled "Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life," and it begins by telling the reader to have contempt for the world in comparison to your love for and devotion to Christ. It lays out practical measures to focus one's heart and attitude on Christ and on Eternal life as opposed to the things of Earth. Some examples include being humble because things of Earth for which one would have pride are meaningless when in relation to Eternity, refusing to chase wealth and riches because there is no true security in them, reading the scriptures daily, and avoiding temptation.The second section, or book, is "Admonitions Concerning the Inner Life," which concerns itself with one's heart, attitude, and thoughts, and encourages the reader to focus constantly on heavenly things, such as Christ's love, and to show love to all of humanity yet expect the world to hate you and be against you.The third section is "On Inward Consolation," and it is a dialogue between Christ and the narrator, and in it, Christ tells the reader to be humble and devout and remember that God directs our paths and destinies, not ourselves. He encourages the reader to constantly work out and affirm our love for God and for others, and to search for the kingdom of God and not the things of this world because the Earth will perish but God and Heaven will last forever. He also encourages the reader to constantly examine and control their heart's desires to better incline them towards God. The final section is "Of the Sacrament on the Altar", which lays out the taking of communion, what it means to take into oneself the death and body of Christ, and how it strengthens the believer. Hammerken says that it is good to frequently partake in the sacrament because it brings one closer to God and encourages unity. The believer should strive to continually fellowship with the Lord in this way as well as spiritually in one's heart, because that unity will drive the Spiritual life and encourage the believer to act continually on their faith and grow closer to community with God. He also explains the way to properly administer the sacrament and the state one's heart and mind should be in when taking it-one of purity and devoutness, with no grievances among fellow believers and no sins that have yet to be confessed before God...
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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