Tag: Thomas A. Kempis

  • 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…

  • STRENGTH AGAINST SLANDER

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, do not take it to heart if some people think badly of you and say unpleasant things about you. You ought to think worse things of yourself and to believe that no one is weaker than yourself. Moreover, if you walk in the spirit you will…

  • SELF-LOVE IS THE GREATEST HINDRANCE TO THE HIGHEST GOOD

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, you should give all for all, and in no way belong to yourself. You must know that self-love is more harmful to you than anything else in the world. In proportion to the love and affection you have for a thing, it will cling to you…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • ALL OUR CARE IS TO BE PLACED IN GOD

    Imitation of Christ THE VOICE OF CHRIST MY CHILD, allow me to do what I will with you. I know what is best for you. You think as a man; you feel in many things as human affection persuades. THE DISCIPLE Lord, what You say is true. Your care for me is greater than all…