Tag: THE DISCIPLE

  • 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…

  • HOW WE MUST CALL UPON AND BLESS THE LORD WHEN TROUBLE PRESSES

    Imitation of Christ THE DISCIPLE BLESSED be Your name forever, O Lord, Who have willed that this temptation and trouble come upon me. I cannot escape it, yet I must fly to You that You may help me and turn it to my good. Now I am troubled, Lord, and my heart is not at…

  • THE EXCELLENCE OF A FREE MIND, GAINED THROUGH PRAYER RATHER THAN BY STUDY

    Imitation of Christ THE DISCIPLE IT IS the mark of a perfect man, Lord, never to let his mind relax in attention to heavenly things, and to pass through many cares as though he had none; not as an indolent man does, but having by the certain prerogative of a free mind no disorderly affection…

  • THE BASIS OF FIRM PEACE OF HEART AND TRUE PROGRESS

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, I have said: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you.” All men desire peace but all do not care for the things that go to make true peace. My peace is with…

  • FOUR THINGS WHICH BRING GREAT PEACE

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, I will teach you now the way of peace and true liberty.Seek, child, to do the will of others rather than your own.Always choose to have less rather than more.Look always for the last place and seek to be beneath all others.Always wish and pray that…

  • REMEMBER THE INNUMERABLE GIFTS OF GOD

    Imitation of Christ THE DISCIPLE OPEN my heart, O Lord, to Your law and teach me to walk in the way of Your commandments. Let me understand Your will. Let me remember Your blessings—all of them and each single one of them—with great reverence and care so that henceforth I may return worthy thanks for…

  • ABOVE ALL GOODS AND ALL GIFTS WE MUST REST IN GOD

    Imitation of Christ THE DISCIPLE ABOVE all things and in all things, O my soul, rest always in God, for He is the everlasting rest of the saints. Grant, most sweet and loving Jesus, that I may seek my repose in You above every creature; above all health and beauty; above every honor and glory;…

  • CONFESSING OUR WEAKNESS IN THE MISERIES OF LIFE

    Imitation of Christ THE DISCIPLE I WILL bring witness against myself to my injustice, and to You, O Lord, I will confess my weakness. Often it is a small thing that makes me downcast and sad. I propose to act bravely, but when even a small temptation comes I find myself in great straits. Sometimes…

  • TRUE PATIENCE IN SUFFERING

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST WHAT are you saying, My child? Think of My suffering and that of the saints, and cease complaining. You have not yet resisted to the shedding of blood. What you suffer is very little compared with the great things they suffered who were so strongly tempted, so severely…