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| The book seems quite relevant for my spiritual journey |
Name: TAGBA
Kpatchaa
Reg. Number: 11087T
Title of the Book: Imitation of Christ.
Paragraph about the Author:
Thomas A Kempis, the author of the book
“The Imitation of Christ” is a German born about A.D. 1380. At the age of
thirteen Thomas left his parents John and Gertrud to join his elder brother at
Deventer who had attached himself to the Congregation of the Common Life, a
brotherhood founded by the great Gerard Groote. There he was overwhelmed by their
spiritual life style. After leaving school, he remain under the guidance of
Florentius, again he acquired a great regard for this holy priest and his
Devotion: “Never before do I remember to have seen men so devout, so full of
love for God and their fellow men,
living in the world, they were all together unworldly” says Thomas of
Florentius and his companions. In 1399 he went to the nearby city of Zwolle and
sought admissions to the new monastery of Mount Agnes were his brother John had
become the prior;
a community of the Canon Regular founded by disciples of Groote. He was
ordained in 1413 and was made sub-prior of the monastery in 1429. With a quiet
life, His time was spent between devotional exercise and composition.. He
remained a writer and copyist until his death in 1471.
My personal motivation for choosing this book
After going through a number of the
proposed books, the introduction of this book “Imitation of Christ” attracted
my attention. I thought of it worth and of great importance. I decided to
journey with this mystic and Spiritual
teacher whose writing are relevant to
our contemporary life as a seminarian and future priest by the grace of God, from
the introduction I felt also that the book touches moral and ethical human formation
especially of the Religious man and I
believe that the Imitation of Christ is generally the fundamental purpose of
Christian life and particularly important for Religious Morality and
Spirituality therefore helpful for my vocational journey as future religious .
Reflection: If then, who will be saved?
This book, though classic, is very challenging. While reading, I try to read myself and the world around me in the book. The main theme is humility and love - the way to sanctification on the path of Jesus. Then what comes in my mind is: “ If then, who will be saved?” Looking at my life, how will I reach that love for God and for neighbor in this constipated world with negativity, envy, selfishness, self-centeredness that is affecting me? How difficult is it for me to love my enemies, how hateful I become when I realize that the friend I share my bread with has turn against me, but a Kempis is telling me that only a true humbled and contrite hearted, loving and ever forgiving are worthy of God’s mercies and graces for their sanctification. If my perfection depend on the depth of my humility and love, then am saying , Lord Jesus, increase my little faith and teach me the way I should walk, grant unto me true humility and reduce my pride, increase my love and reduce my self-centeredness; may you never depart from me and may I never lose sight on you. May I remain with you God in Humility and simplicity with truth and sincerity. Amen.
Reflection: If then, who will be saved?
This book, though classic, is very challenging. While reading, I try to read myself and the world around me in the book. The main theme is humility and love - the way to sanctification on the path of Jesus. Then what comes in my mind is: “ If then, who will be saved?” Looking at my life, how will I reach that love for God and for neighbor in this constipated world with negativity, envy, selfishness, self-centeredness that is affecting me? How difficult is it for me to love my enemies, how hateful I become when I realize that the friend I share my bread with has turn against me, but a Kempis is telling me that only a true humbled and contrite hearted, loving and ever forgiving are worthy of God’s mercies and graces for their sanctification. If my perfection depend on the depth of my humility and love, then am saying , Lord Jesus, increase my little faith and teach me the way I should walk, grant unto me true humility and reduce my pride, increase my love and reduce my self-centeredness; may you never depart from me and may I never lose sight on you. May I remain with you God in Humility and simplicity with truth and sincerity. Amen.
Salvation: Is it our Struggle or by the Grace of God (21st October 2912)
In
my first reflection I shared about how Thomas a Kempis challenged my life
presenting unto me the total humility and love as a way to sanctification. In this second reflection on the second part
of his book, a Kempis tells me that though salvation is a grace of God, there
is a need to struggle against sins in
this world in order to show my interest for salvation; Because God created me
without my concern but he will not save me without my interest. To show my
interest I ought to live a virtuous life. According to Kempis, good attitudes
are helpful for virtuous life. He proposes unto me a constant struggle for
total conversion (Metanoia) through a humble submission to the will of God. He says that I ought to be a good and peaceful
adopted child of God. I also ought to seek intimacy with Jesus by loving him
above all. I should trust in God and do good to my brothers, I should be
patient and avoid false judgments; I should refrain from anger and resistance
and show meekness in my life. Then I asked myself in meditation: How is this
possible in this world of tribulations and temptations? A Kempis tells me that what
is impossible for me is possible for God, if I trust in God; his sanctifying
grace will always takes over my limitations. May the Spirit of the Living God
fall afresh on me, May he mould me and increase our faith, so that I may
believe and trust in his loving mercies and graces for my salvation Amen.
Reflection: How should we listen to God when he speaks
to us ? (4th November)
In the beginning God spoke
to our forefathers through visions, dreams and prophets. Today God speaks to
individuals in their Heart. In this third part of his book, A Kempis shows the
importance of interior silence. It is the time God speaks to us in the depth of
our hearts. A Kempis proposes unto us time of retreat, away from noise, in solitude
and in secret places where we could read
the word of God, meditates upon it and
listen to God. What could be the importance of such exercise? According to A
Kempis the Word of the Lord is truth and life. When we listen to preachers they
transmit this Word unto us, but when we listen to God who speaks in our hearts,
we receive the deeper meaning of this word and we understand better the way of
our salvation, brief, from God we receive divine illumination of the words of eternal life .Finally a Kempis
says that those who do not listen to the
voice of God may not be able to
triumph on the judgment day. Lord increases our faith so as to believe unto
your words, keep your precepts and always have time to listen to you
Imitation of Christ - Summary and Reflection
Introduction Originally
in Latin (De Imitatione Christi),
“The Imitation of Christ” is a Christian Devotional Book written by the German
Augustinian Monk Thomas A Kempis (A.
D. 1380 -1471.) a prior of the Monastery of Mount St Agnes[1].
This book is generally a fundamental principle of Christian life and particularly
important for Religious Morality and Spirituality. The Imitation of Christ by it Moral and
Ethical relevance is widely considered one of the greatest manuals of devotion
in Christianity. This book presents the life of Jesus as model of Christian
Life. It instruct Christian of 15th century to love and Imitate Christ as it is written in the
scriptures , advices them to assent to the authority of the Church, warns them against temptation
and how to resist it. It insists on meditations upon the oblation of Christ,
and admonitions to flee the vanities of the world. This book is divided into
four Parts and for a better understanding I would present this summary
following the structure of the book.
I. SUMMARY
Part I: The Useful Admonition of Spiritual Life[2] In this fist part, a Kempis reminds
us that in this word we are strangers. Our true home is Heaven though not everybody
will enter. He says that Only those who follow Christ’s steps, who walk in his
light (Jn8:12), and remain virtuously in union with God will enter his kingdom.
A Kempis in this part gives a strong teaching about our attachment to the
worldly richness. He point out that all in this world is vanity. What count is
Conversion and Faith in the lord Jesus? Love of God and Love of neighbor. The
main theme here is “humility and love the way to sanctification on the path of
Jesus”. Finally, a Kempis presents the ways of retribution, the last judgment
and punishment of sinners. He encourage
the ways of good Spiritual life Such as Love of God and Love of Neighbor, Life of truthfulness and prudence in acting model of
good disciple , then he warns us against Pride and adversities in this world.
Part II: The Admonition Concerning Interior Life[3] At
this level, A Kempis move from the outward manifestation of Faith to encourage
a way of monasticism: love of solitude as adequate way of interior spiritual
life. A Kempis encourages a constant conversion (Metanoia). He clarifies that
the way of Christ implies purity of mind and simplicity of intention: model of
good and peaceful disciple of Christ. According to him, we are temples of The
Spirit implies that we ought in a humble submission; develop a
self-consideration as we enter in friendship with Christ. As good disciple we
ought to love the Cross, and submit to the Sanctifying graces. Because he
who gives himself to Jesus will ever be strengthened by Jesus and He will not
suffer lasting death. Finally A Kempis encourages us to abide in Jesus in life
and death; trust ourselves to the glory of Him who alone can help us when all
others fail.
Part III: The Interior Consolation[4]
In part
tree, A Kempis’s theme is “Interior Consolation”. What is this about? He says
consolation an interior solace, a Spiritual comfort Christian receives from the
spirit while in interior conversation with Christ. In silence truth speaks
within us; In celebration we listen to the word of God and in meditation this
sacred words speaks to us, throw Devine light into our hearts, and make us humble
and worthy of adopted children of God. Then by the movement of the Holy Spirit
we become Happy. A Kempis proposes life
of truth Charity, patience, obedient and meekness like Christ. Only those who
are Christ-like could enter in conversation with Christ in their Hearts. To end
this part A Kempis advices the openness of Heart to Divine assistance, Self-denial
and total Surrender to God. We should cease to be Anxious about trials, but we
should be ready to endure the cross which is a true way of discipleship.
Part IV: The Blessed Sacrament[5]
“This is my
body that is for you do this in remembrance of me” (1cor11:24). A Kempis here
reminds us that Sacraments are from Christ but entrusted to the Church as means
of graces for the Church. He presents The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist as the
Submit of all, the food of those who are reborn in Christ. He put emphasis on
the Level of Reverence with which we should Receive Christ. Further he explains
that the Great goodness and Love of God are shown to us in Eucharist therefore
it is profitable for Christian to receive Communion frequently. To finish this
part, A Kempis expatiates on the value of the other sacrament in which we
receive Sanctifying graces and Actual graces. But he put emphases on the sacerdotal
state and dignity of which Priest should administer these sacraments. “If you
had the angelic purity, and the Holiness of John the Baptist, you still would
not be worthy to administer sacraments, for it is not due to human merit that a
man consecrates and administer the sacrament of Christ. It is of great
privilege for a legitimate ordained priest by the church have the power to
celebrate and consecrates the body of Christ.
II. BRIEF EVALUATION AND COMMENTARY
OF THE BOOK
The Book “The
Imitation of Christ” of Thomas A Kempis is a very challenging Classic book. By
it date of Edition it appears clearly outdated but by it content and teaching
this book is more than just a devotional Book; It is truly useful for the
present Christians as well as the generation to come. I personally see it as a
total way of life for a good Christian. A Kempis intelligibly and divinely
illuminated touches all Domain of human life both religious, Moral, Ethical,
theological, the main theme is humility and love the way to sanctification on
the path of Jesus: The parfait way of
imitation of Chris[6].
He focused on the personal Christian Devotional life as well as disciplinary
matter which make us Christ like. He opened Christian eye to the challenges of
our sinful nature in this world of tribulations and negativity. He says that
this world is not our Home, we are strangers and we ought to go back one day to
our true home which is heaven[7].
On death, Last judgment and retribution or Punishment he present an urgent
Metanoia because we do not know the time or the hour of our death[8].
I believe that this book brought understanding and
comfort to many of those red it over centuries in the past, will do the same to
us in this present as well as the future readers.
III. BRIEF CRITICISM ON THE BOOK
Though this classic, Book is very biblically rooted and
strongly Stand for religious instruction and inspiration, From some part of it
Content, it appears as if A Kempis was
addressing himself to an audience which was deeply worldly incline in a way that though he is Candid and conversational in style, the Theology is purely a liberation or preparation
and consolation by prayer and by the
Eucharistic communion in a devout life of the Believer. My criticism that in my
understanding, A Kempis appears scrupulous in his instruction as if our salvation
depends only on our personal struggle. He does not bring in the Effect of
sanctifying grace of God all he encourages is at the level of personal
struggle. For me a devotional book normally ought to point out that we are already saved by baptism in Christ's death
and resurrection, then proposes ways of spiritual exercises to stay awake with
Christ in prayers. Personal struggle is important but it should come at the
practical level of our Faith in the life of sacraments, the Holy Eucharist and
confession. A Kempis will sound also
fundamentalist if he says that only a
true humbled and contrite hearted, always loving and ever forgiving are worthy
of God’s sanctification. Thirdly A Kempis presents Death in a very dreadful way
as if it were the only preoccupation of Man on Earth. As if we were created
only to die; thus he says it is
dreadful to die, yet it is more dangerous to live long, blessed is the man who
keeps the hour of his death always in mind, and daily prepares himself to die[9]. He
presents Death as the end of life; and the life of man as a shadow which is not
remembered, for which there is no prayer. He ask men to Act now, to do all they
can; for the hour of death is unknown, nor the state after death. Here A Kempis
appears fastidious, as if he does not believe in the prayers of the militant
Church for the departed souls. Finally A Kempis appears to be writhing to a
community of apostates or incredulous therefore in order to reanimate Faith and
liberate them he presents a strong teaching.
Conclusion
Despite all criticism which could be
addressed to A Kempis in his Book “ The Imitation of Christ” this book remain
highly accredited for it instruction on religious , moral and ethical teaching. Though Classical, the content of
this book remain relevant to our contemporary world and will remain useful for
all reader of all folks. The author with an illuminative sagacity was ingenious
in his presentation and has achieved a authentic way of life of Christian of
all folks and all generation both from past, present and future.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A Kempis, T., The Imitation of Christ, eee4th August
2008, Pauline Publication, Africa, Nairobi, 2008 The
Holy Bible, Revise Standard Version, an Ecumenical Edition , New York, Glasgow, London Collins,
1998.
[1]
Cf, T. A Kempis, The
Imitation of Christ” 244
[2]
Cf, T. A Kempis, the
Imitation of Christ”, 9-54.
[3]
Cf, T. A Kempis, The
Imitation of Christ”,59-79
[4]
Cf, T. A Kempis, The
Imitation of Christ”,85-196
[5]
Cf, T. A Kempis, The
Imitation of Christ”,199 237
[6]
Cf, T. A Kempis, The
Imitation of Christ”,13
[7]
Cf, T. A Kempis, The
Imitation of Christ”,9
[8]
Cf, T. A Kempis, The
Imitation of Christ”,49
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