Tag: Thomas A. Kempis

  • GRACE MUST BE HIDDEN UNDER THE MANTLE OF HUMILITY

    The Imitation of Christ THE SEVENTH CHAPTER THE VOICE OF CHRIST IT IS better and safer for you to conceal the grace of devotion, not to be elated by it, not to speak or think much of it, and instead to humble yourself and fear lest it is being given to one unworthy of it.…

  • LISTEN HUMBLY TO THE WORDS OF GOD. MANY DO NOT HEED THEM

    The Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, hear My words, words of greatest sweetness surpassing all the knowledge of the philosophers and wise men of earth. My words are spirit and life, and they are not to be weighed by man’s understanding. They are not to be invoked in vanity but are…

  • TRUTH SPEAKS INWARDLY WITHOUT THE SOUND OF WORDS

    The Imitation of Christ THE SECOND CHAPTER THE DISCIPLE “SPEAK, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” “I am Thy servant. Give me understanding that I may know Thine ordinances6 … Incline my heart to Thine ordinances … Let Thy speech distil as the dew.”28 The children of Israel once said to Moses: “Speak thou to us…

  • INTERNAL CONSOLATION

    The Imitation of Christ BOOK THREEThe First Chapter THE INWARD CONVERSATION OF CHRIST WITH THE FAITHFUL SOUL “I WILL hear what the Lord God will speak in me.” Blessed is the soul who hears the Lord speaking within her, who receives the word of consolation from His lips. Blessed are the ears that catch the…

  • THE ROYAL ROAD OF THE HOLY CROSS

    The Imitation of Christ TO MANY the saying, “Deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow Me,” seems hard, but it will be much harder to hear that final word: “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.”20 Those who hear the word of the cross and follow it willingly now, need not fear that…

  • FEW LOVE THE CROSS OF JESUS

    The Imitation of Christ JESUS has always many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who bear His cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table, but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish…

  • APPRECIATING GOD’S GRACE

    The Imitation of Christ WHY do you look for rest when you were born to work? Resign yourself to patience rather than to comfort, to carrying your cross rather than to enjoyment.What man in the world, if he could always have them, would not readily accept consolation and spiritual joy, benefits which excel all earthly…

  • WANTING NO SHARE IN COMFORT

    The Imitation of Christ IT IS not hard to spurn human consolation when we have the divine. It is, however, a very great thing indeed to be able to live without either divine or human comforting and for the honor of God willingly to endure this exile of heart, not to seek oneself in anything,…

  • THE INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP OF JESUS

    The Imitation of Christ WHEN Jesus is near, all is well and nothing seems difficult. When He is absent, all is hard. When Jesus does not speak within, all other comfort is empty, but if He says only a word, it brings great consolation. Did not Mary Magdalen rise at once from her weeping when…

  • LOVING JESUS ABOVE ALL THINGS

    The Imitation of Christ BLESSED is he who appreciates what it is to love Jesus and who despises himself for the sake of Jesus. Give up all other love for His, since He wishes to be loved alone above all things. Affection for creatures is deceitful and inconstant, but the love of Jesus is true…