Imitation of Christ: 4, 13 (109 ...Devout Soul Should Desire Union with Christ... [Devotional]

For your thoughtful and prayerful meditation and response.

Actual title:

With All Her Heart the Devout Soul Should Desire Union with Christ in the Sacrament

Imitation of Christ Devotional Ping!

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The Religion Moderator gave me permission to copy the rules from the Chambers' thread (with a few alterations) which I think are applicable. Thank you to the RM!

Come to these threads as you are; leave with what you have discovered.

Absolutely no flaming! These daily threads are intended to be devotional in nature. If a particular day's offering says nothing to you, please just go on and wait for the next day. Consider these threads a DMZ of sorts, a place where a perpetual truce is in effect and a place where all other arguments and disagreements from other times and places are left behind.

I can attest from personal experience (Salvation's) that reading from Imitation of Christ daily will almost certainly change - not one's faith - but one's perspective of his/her own faith, and open up new vistas in your spiritual life. If - when - this happens to a reader of these threads, and they choose to share what has happened within them - we are treading on hallowed ground. Be respectful.

- Religion Moderator

Christ In The Garden Of Gethsemane art print by Heinrich Hofmann

THE IMITATION OF CHRIST

BY
THOMAS KEMPIS
A very powerful spiritual guidance for the soul who seeks to imitate Jesus Christ.

Learn from me, because I am meek and humble of heart. Mat. 11:29

If flaming is not accepted, why not make this a caucused thread?

“Avoid as far as thou canst the tumult of men; for talk concerning worldly things, though it be innocently undertaken, is a hindrance, so quickly are we led captive and defiled by vanity. Many a time I wish that I had held my peace, and had not gone amongst men. But why do we talk and gossip so continually, seeing that we so rarely resume our silence without some hurt done to our conscience? We like talking so much because we hope by our conversations to gain some mutual comfort, and because we seek to refresh our wearied spirits by variety of thoughts. And we very willingly talk and think of those things which we love or desire, or else of those which we most dislike.

But alas! it is often to no purpose and in vain. For this outward consolation is no small hindrance to the inner comfort which cometh from God. Therefore must we watch and pray that time pass not idly away. If it be right and desirable for thee to speak, speak things which are to edification. Evil custom and neglect of our real profit tend much to make us heedless of watching over our lips. Nevertheless, devout conversation on spiritual things helpeth not a little to spiritual progress, most of all where those of kindred mind and spirit find their ground of fellowship in God.”

As a Southern Baptist, I find a hymn helps meditation

My favorite: http://www.simplyangel.com/theoldruggedcross.htm

The should the Spurgeon, Chambers, etc. threads be caucus threads?

There are many non-Catholics on my ping list for this thread.

Furthermore, the Religion Moderator approved my use of the post used on the Chambers thread. Have you talked to the posters there about a caucus?

Music/songs very often help mediation. Especially if they are keyed into the subject matter of a presentation or meditation.

I find “the Old Rugged Cross” to be in keeping with the theme of imitating Jesus.

Devotional threads and prayer threads are treated the same way as caucus threads - the posters should behave as if it were a closed door church meeting. No further labeling in the header is needed.

All other threads are open and posters should behave as if it were happening in the town square.