Category: Thomas A. Kempis

  • MAN HAS NO GOOD IN HIMSELF AND CAN GLORY IN NOTHING

    Imitation of Christ THE DISCIPLE LORD, what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You visit him? What has man deserved that You should give him Your grace? What cause have I, Lord, to complain if You desert me, or what objection can I have if You do…

  • A MAN SHOULD NOT BE UNDULY SOLICITOUS ABOUT HIS AFFAIRS

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, always commit your cause to Me. I will dispose of it rightly in good time. Await My ordering of it and it will be to your advantage. THE DISCIPLE Lord, I willingly commit all things to You, for my anxiety can profit me little. But I…

  • THE RIGHT ORDERING OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS; RECOURSE TO GOD IN DANGERS

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, you must strive diligently to be inwardly free, to have mastery over yourself everywhere, in every external act and occupation, that all things be subject to you and not you to them, that you be the master and director of your actions, not a slave or…

  • PURE AND ENTIRE RESIGNATION OF SELF TO OBTAIN FREEDOM OF HEART

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, renounce self and you shall find Me. Give up your own self-will, your possessions, and you shall always gain. For once you resign yourself irrevocably, greater grace will be given you. THE DISCIPLE How often, Lord, shall I resign myself? And in what shall I forsake…

  • THE VAIN JUDGMENTS OF MAN

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, trust firmly in the Lord, and do not fear the judgment of men when conscience tells you that you are upright and innocent. For it is good and blessed to suffer such things, and they will not weigh heavily on the humble heart that trusts in…

  • THERE IS NO SECURITY FROM TEMPTATION IN THIS LIFE

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, in this life you are never safe, and as long as you live the weapons of the spirit will ever be necessary to you. You dwell among enemies. You are subject to attack from the right and the left. If, therefore, you do not guard yourself…

  • GOD IS SWEET ABOVE ALL THINGS AND IN ALL THINGS TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM

    Imitation of Christ THE DISCIPLE BEHOLD, my God and my all! What more do I wish for; what greater happiness can I desire? O sweet and delicious word! But sweet only to him who loves it, and not to the world or the things that are in the world. My God and my all! These…

  • RESTLESSNESS OF SOUL – DIRECTING OUR FINAL INTENTION TOWARD GOD

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, do not trust in your present feeling, for it will soon give way to another. As long as you live you will be subject to changeableness in spite of yourself. You will become merry at one time and sad at another, now peaceful but again disturbed,…

  • SELF-DENIAL AND THE RENUNCIATION OF EVIL APPETITES

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, you can never be perfectly free unless you completely renounce self, for all who seek their own interest and who love themselves are bound in fetters. They are unsettled by covetousness and curiosity, always searching for ease and not for the things of Christ, often devising…

  • TO FIND THE CREATOR, FORSAKE ALL CREATURES

    Imitation of Christ THE DISCIPLE O LORD, I am in sore need still of greater grace if I am to arrive at the point where no man and no created thing can be an obstacle to me. For as long as anything holds me back, I cannot freely fly to You. He that said “Oh…