Tag: THE DISCIPLE

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…