IMITATION OF CHRIST

TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS, INC. | 1418 | Thomas à Kempis, Translated by Rev. Richard Challoner, D.D. from the Original Latin

[naira]

Chapter 1

Of the Imitation of Christ, and the Contempt of All the Vanities of the World

"HE that followeth me, walketh not in darkness," saith Our Lord. (John 8:12).These are the words of Christ, by which we are admonished, that we must imitate His life and manners, if we would be truly enlightened, and delivered from all blindness of heart.

Let it then be our chief study to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ.

(John 8:12 Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world. He that followeth me walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life.)

[naira]

Prayer

What will it avail me, O Jesus, to study and to know in part Thy supreme greatness, and the most sublime of Thy mysteries, if I endeavor not to derive advantage and merit from them, by cherishing Thy disposition and copying Thy virtues, since, to save my soul, I must not only know, but practice what Thou hast taught me by Thy word, and manifested in Thy life for my imitation-I must know and practice my religion? This, my Saviour, is the grace which I now ask of Thee, with a firm hope that Thou wilt grant my petition. Amen.

[naira]

Chapter 2

Of Having an Humble Opinion of One's Self

All men naturally desire to know, but what does knowledge avail without the fear of God?

Indeed an humble husbandman, that serves God, is better than a proud philosopher, who neglecting himself, considers the course of the heavens. (Ecclesiasticus 19:21)

He who knows himself well, is mean in his own eyes, and is not delighted with being praised by men.

If I should know all things that are in the world, and should not be in charity (Romans 13:8;1 Corinthians 13:2), What would it avail me in the sight of God, who will judge me by my deeds?

(Ecclesiasticus 19:21 Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High.)

(Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law.)

(1 Corinthians 13:2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.)

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Michael,

As a newcomer to this thread, I can read all the posts. While perhaps at times they will sharp with you, you are not all that innocent in the little war of words that has been going on. Your comment to a number of people, "When will you begin imitating Christ?" could very well be asked of you. I think you would find a much better response if you debated Catholics the way "drstevej" does, who sticks to the debate, and doesn't delve into sarcasm, false shock, and snide comments. Just a slight observation, I think you will be surprised by the change in the way you are treated and in the way you treat others.

God Bless

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Michael,

Even the average Protestant on this site doesn't claim that the New Testament was canonized in A.D. 110. While the books were indeed written by that date, they had yet to be incorporated into one body or canon. There were other letters and Gospels written of that time, that ultimately didn't make it into the canon because they were not the Inspired Word of God, but in A.D. 110, that New Testament was not yet codified, it was codified at Hippo in A.D. 370(ish). You do hear the entire Bible in three years at Mass, who is to say that that is the only way Catholics hear the Bible? Have I read the Entire Bible? You don't know (the answer is the affirmative, read it in a year -- one of those one year Bibles).

God Bless

[naira]

Hi Michael

Hope you are doing good.

OK this is my story. I am a born and raised Catholic. Beyond my duties as a Catholic, I never really questioned why I believed what I believed. There came a point were I started doubting the reasons given for many a Catholic tradition and teaching. While doing research from all different kind of sources, I learned "many" points of view from other Christian faiths. I was one to criticize the traditions and teachings of the Catholic faith. Not so much in public, but in my conscience. The Non-Catholic Christian arguments are very strong. They "obviously" make sense. (Especially with the 99.9% of Catholics who do not even know the basics.) Well, anyway, when I went through many of these arguments with the few Catholics that did know why they were Catholics, and also knew how to explain, "and" took the time or had the time to share, Then, unexpectedly, I was a Catholic, not only by tradition but by conviction. I understood. This was not a simple or short process. Especially, because I am not one to believe "just because.." and especially concerning this matter.

In general, what I have experienced is that the more faithful and knowledgeable a Non-Catholic Christian is, the more likely he is to become a Catholic, and the less knowledgeable a Catholic is in his faith, the more likely he is to become a non-Catholic Christian.

Also, I have noticed that the ones who truly live their Catholic faith, can be recognized in any given situation by the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Michael, the arguments that you present were valid to me at one time, but there is a lot more. It takes a lot of time to go through this arguments. Besides my obligations at home, I am involved in another ministry. I promised someone that I would once in a while write from the "Imitation of Christ" or the "Sermons of St. Alphonsus Liguori" and I have barely had time for that.

I do hope that once in a while you visit and read the "Imitation of Christ". Just because.

Again, keep praying for me, and I'll keep doing the same for you and yours.

Your sister in Christ,
Naira

P.S. - Thank you for considering my feelings regarding Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

[naira]

Leave off that excessive desire of knowing: because there is found therein much distraction and deceit.

They who are learned, are desirous to appear, and to be called wise.

There are many things, the knowledge of which is of little or no profit to the soul.

And he is very unwise who attends to other things than what may serve to his salvation.

Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life gives ease to the mind; and a pure conscience affords a great confidence in God.(1 Timothy 3:9).

(1 Timothy 3:9 Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.)

[Conservative til I die]

Hey Mike, stuff it.

[Conservative til I die]

That is the greatest image I have everr seen!

[GirlShortstop]

That is the greatest image I have ever seen!

LOL... I'm glad you enjoyed it!  The author is unbeknown to me, but deserves heaps of praise.  
See my tagline^¹ for the accompanying thought to "round out the set".   FReegards!

¹ courtesy of BlackElk

[GirlShortstop]

Brian, wasn't that what got you suspended that time? :)

rut row!    :-)

[Polycarp IV]

That is the greatest image I have ever seen!

LOL... I'm glad you enjoyed it! The author is unbeknown to me, but deserves heaps of praise.

I came up with the YOPIOS concept and design, B-Chan did the excellent computer graphics work to make it a reality.

And yes, when I first posted it here, I was temporarily suspended for so "offensive" a graphic ;-)

Dr. Brian Kopp (Polycarp)

[Polycarp IV]

Brian, wasn't that what got you suspended that time? :)

Yep, a proud moment in Catholic FReeping ;-)

[GirlShortstop]

I came up with the YOPIOS concept and design, B-Chan did the excellent computer graphics work to make it a reality.

Fantastic work talented FRiends!!  Thank you sandyeggo for the ping, and for getting the question answered as well.  FReegards!

[B-Chan]

I'm glad you like it. Remember, the YOPIOS Box is like the atom bomb -- to be used only against fanatical enemies, and then only as a last resort.

[naira]

3.The more and better thou knowest, the more heavy will be thy judgment unless thy life be also more holy.

Be not, therefore, puffed up with any art or science: but rather fear upon account of the knowledge which is given thee.

If it seem to thee that thou knowest many things, and understandest them well enough, know at the same time, that there are many more things of which thou art ignorant.

Be not high-minded, but rather acknowledge thine ignorance. Why wouldst thou prefer thyself to anyone, since there are many more learned and skillful in the law than thyself?

If thou wouldst know and learn anything to the purpose, love to be unknown and esteemed as nothing.

[naira]

4. This is the highest science and most profitable lesson, truly to know and despise ourselves.

To have no opinion of ourselves, and to think always well and commendably of others, is great wisdom and high perfection.

If thou shouldst see another openly sin, or commit some heinous crime, yet thou oughtst not to esteem thyself better: because thou knowest not how long thou mayest remain in a good state.

We are all frail: but see thou think no one more frail than thyself.