Page 1 of 1 online text of an excerpt from thomas a kempis on the imitation of christ. Hymns on the imitation of christ by thomas akempis. The most famous of his works by far is the imitation of christ, a charming. Thomas a kempis and the imitation of christ david alton. Thomas was formally ordained at the age of 33 years. No man appears in safety before the public eye unless he first. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. Examine the life, times, and work of thomas a kempis through detailed author biographies on enotes. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis january 17, 2017 two things particularly further improvementto withdraw oneself forcibly from those vices to which nature is viciously inclined, and to work fervently for those graces which are most needed. These are christs own words by which he exhorts us to imitate his life and his ways p. Thomas a kempis 801471 thomas a kempis was a late medieval catholic monk and author of the imitation of christ, one of the best known christian books on devotion. Haemmerlein, who was born in 79 or 80, was a member of the order of the brothers of common life, and spent the last seventy years of his life at mount st.
Imitation is traditionally attributed to thomas a kempis. Notes and questions for thomas a kempis 801471 the imitation of christ 1418 robert harris. The inner life quotes showing 16 of 6 the more humble and obedient to god a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does. There are over 2000 counted editions over of which are preserved in the british museum. He was made subprior in 1429, but his outer life was not very eventful. Gmv the imitation of christ by thomas a kempis study guide by gerhard221 includes 102 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. Penguin strikes again with a wonderful new series called great ideas featuring 12 books by great thinkers dating back to the first millennium b. Love feels no burden, thinks nothing of trouble, attempts what is above its strength, pleads no excuse of impossibility for it thinks all things lawful for itself, and all things possible. The answer and common denominator to both these questions is the imitation of christ written in the fifteenth century by thomas a kempis, who died in 1471. Thomas a kempis is not only a master of the spiritual life, he is a master writer as well. Thomas a kempis was a late medieval catholic monk and best known as the author of the imitation of christ.
It is his edition that is the imitation of christ thomas, a kempis. It encourages us to live a life devoid of worldly vanities and, in the words of st. As with the scriptures, the more familiar we are with this book, the fairer the riches we discover in its pages, and the more it becomes a part of ourselves. Summary of an introduction to the devout life by st. Sep 06, 2005 thomas a kempis was a medieval monk and priest 801471 who served as chronicler of the monastery at mt. The inner life of man is greatly hindered in this life by the needs of the body.
If you cast away one cross, you will certainly find another, and perhaps a heavier. Thomas a kempis urges christlikeness christian history. He wrote many devotional works, of which his masterpiece is the imitation of chritst. That thomas hemerken of kempen, or thomas a kempis as he is now known, later translated a composite of their writings, essentially a spiritual diary, from the original netherlandish into latin is generally admitted by scholars. Gmv the imitation of christ by thomas a kempis flashcards. Jul 08, 2015 blessed is the pilgrim, who in every place, and at all times of this his banishment in the body, calling upon the holy name of jesus, calleth to mind his native heavenly land, where his blessed master, the king of saints and angels, waiteth to receive him. This thomas, born about the year 80, was educated by the brethren of the common life, was moved to join their community, and was ordained priest. The imitation of christ, image books, 1955 thomas a kempis was born in kempen, prussia in 79 into a family of artisans and metal workers.
The imitation of christ, from which the inner life is taken, remains his most famous work. He reflected the mystical spirituality of his times, the sense of being absorbed in god. Anyone, then, who aims to live the inner and spiritual life must go apart, with jesus, from the crowd. It is the most widely read devotional book after the bible. As you read book ii, watch for the treatment of the inner light, life, and strength. The inner life thomas a kempis its strongly recommended to start read the intro section, next on the quick discussion and find out all the topic coverage within this pdf file one after the other. The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis home facebook. This thomas, born about the year 80, was educated by the brethren of the common life, was moved.
The next 57 years of his life were spent as scribe, teacher, and contemplative. His writings are all of a devotional character and include tracts and meditations, letters, sermons, a life of saint lydewigis, a christian woman who remained steadfast under a great stress of afflictions. These sayings and quotations help to create a positive mindset and are fun to know by heart. Translated from the original latin by the right rev. They were talking about thomas a kempiss the imitation of christ, the devotional classic that has been translated into over 50 languages, in editions too numerous for scholars to keep track of by 1779 there were already 1,800 editions. They have transformed the way we see ourselvesand each. Here are some awesome quotes and sayings from thomas a kempis.
Key terms and phrases to look for are trust in god, joy, peace, prideproud. Notes and questions for thomas a kempis 801471 the imitation of christ 1418. The school he attended at nearby deventer in holland had been started by gerard groote, founder of the brothers of the common life. Oh, the dullness and hardness of a heart which looks only to the present instead of. From both pursuits evolved the imitation of christ. Woe to those who refuse to recognize their own wretchedness, and doubly woe to those who love this miserable and corruptible life rom. Bible living the unexpected perks of being thrown into the fire stephen altrogge. Kempis was a medieval monk and priest 801471 who served as chronicler of the monastery at mt. Thomas a kempis was a medieval monk and priest 801471 who served as. Book 3, chapters 1120 of the imitation of christ by. He died at the age of 91 years in 1471, and was buried in the grounds of the priory at mount st. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app.
These are christs own words by which he exhorts us to imitate his life. Works prayers and meditations on the life of christ. I have to admit that, outside of the context of the series, this fourteenthcentury catholic devotional tract is not something i would normally pick up, find. His writings are all of a devotional character and include tracts and meditations, letters, sermons, a life of saint lydewigis, a christian woman who.
Thomas wrote a number of sermons, letters, hymns, and information about the lives of the saints. Paul, to put on christthat is, to imitate christ, in order to find peace and fulfillment. He was apparently accidentally buried alive, because splinters were later found embedded under the fingernails of his corpse. His parents, john and gertrude haemerken, were of the artisan class. Hymns on the imitation of christ by thomas a kempis. This was a spiritual movement that stressed the importance of personal and inner spirituality as well as outward religion, and devotion to the person of jesus, and meditation. Introduction 34 the chapters of the first book counsels on the spiritual life 1.
The imitation of christ by thomas a kempis book club. Thomas 801471 was a monk of the augustinian order a recent revival of the order of st augustine of hippo and a follower of the modern devotion. As editor and translator he was not without faults, but thanks to him the. The author was a member of the brethren of the common life, one of many lay communities, both female and male, that sprang up during the 15th century as centres of the devotio moderna, a religious movement that stressed the inner spiritual. These meditations on the life and teachings of jesus, written in times even more troubled and dangerous than our own, have become second only to the bible as a guide and inspiration.
Nov, 2014 vanity of vanities, and all is vanity, except to love god and serve him alone background 0. Explore some of thomas a kempis best quotations and sayings on such as carry the cross patiently, and with perfect submission and in the end it shall carry you. The imitation of christ, by thomas a kempis book 1, chapter 23. His career thereafter was devoted to practicing the counsels of spiritual perfection and to copying books for the schools. As you read book ii, watch for the treatment of the inner light, life, and. After being ordained to the priesthood in 14, thomas a. This thomas, born about the year 80, was educated by the brethren of the common life, was moved to join their community, and was ordained. His inner life, however, was deep and rich, filled with a genuine devo tion to christ. The catholic archive thomas a kempis the imitation of christ book 1 chapter 23 thoughts on death very soon your life here will end. For five hundred years, this gentle book, filled with the spirit of the love of god, has brought understanding and comfort to millions of readers in over fifty languages, and provided them with a source of heartfelt personal prayer. Woe to those who refuse to recognize their own wretchedness, and doubly woe to those who love this miserable and corruptible liferom. The imitation of christ, which first appeared in the late fifteenth century, has without exaggeration been called the most widely read work of devotion ever written.
Like the three previous classics of monastic literature, the imitation of christ is a guide to changing our lives and learning to grow closer to christ in spirit and in deeds. Thomas a kempis was a medieval monk and priest 801471 who served as chronicler of the monastery at. Thomas a kempis christian history christianity today. The inner life a name the people at penguin invented for their excerpts from thomas a kempiss famous the imitation of christ rounds out my first set of four great ideas volumes. Thomas kempis was a medieval catholic monk and author of the imitation of christ, considered to be one of the bestknown christian books on devotion. Inner life penguin great ideas kempis, thomas a on. Oct 22, 2015 thomas a kempis was a medieval monk and priest 801471 who served as chronicler of the monastery at mt. About thomas a kempis thomas a kempis was a medieval monk and priest 801471 who served as chronicler of the monastery at mt.
About the author 2004 thomas a kempis was born at kempen near dusseldorf in 80. Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity, except to love god and serve him alone background 0. He wrote four booklets between 1420 and 1427 which were published under the title the imitation of christ. Its extraordinarily rich in insight and wisdom, focusing on devotion to christ rather than on controversy or dogmatic theology, and is one of. Thomas a kempis was a member of the brethren of common life, in the late middle ages. Thomas a kempis was a medieval monk and priest 801471 who served as chronicler of the monastery at mt. One of his jobs was to instruct novices in the community. It is vanity to desire a long life and to take no heed of a good life. Kempen, or thomas a kempis as he is now known, later translated a composite of their writings, essentially a spiritual diary, from the original netherlandish into latin is generally admitted by scholars. In 99, at the age of nineteen, thomas a kempis 801471 became a monk at the augustinian monastery where he would spend the rest of his life. At the age of thirteen years, he left his family to join his older brother, john, who had ten or twelve years earlier traveled to. Buy the inner life penguin great ideas book online at low prices. The inner life quotes by thomas a kempis goodreads.
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