NAME:
Samba Lawrence Kwame John
REGISTRAION NO. 11086T
TITLE: The Imitation of Christ
AUTHOR: Thomas a Kempis Haemenken
 |
| I wish to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ |
MOTIVATION
As the title of the book suggests, it is that which
every Christian would love to read. The title is very attracting and charming.
However, l am motivated, inspired and moved to read and study this book because
l will like to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ, the one through whom we
are saved.
Introduction
The book imitation of Christ by Thomas A kembis is a Christian devotional book. This book is one of the most widely read book in the world. This book is regarded as devotional and religious classic. The Imitation of Christ is divided into four books which provide us with explanation of spiritual instructions. I have tried to give the summary of this book. I have not covered all the points from the book. I took to myself what inspired me as I read the book. I have also given my reflection at the end as what inspired me. But I have tried my best to produce from the book imitation of Christ. I would like to acknowledge my source. I used the book the imitation of Christ and some internet resources.
Thomas a kempis
Thomas a kembis was born at the Lower Rhine region in Kempen, Germany, County of Cleves ca.1380. His paternal name was Hemerken, Kleverlandish means little hammer. His father John was a blacksmith and his mother, Gertrude was a school-mistress. In 1392 he followed his brother, Jan, to Deventer, Netherlands in order to attend the city school. While attending school in Deventer, Thomas encountered the Brethren of the Common Life, followers of Gerard Groote's Modern Devotion. He attended school in Deventer from 1392 to 1399.
After leaving school, Thomas traveled to Zwolle, Netherlands to visit his brother again, after Jan had become the prior of the Mount St. Agnes monastery. Thereafter, Thomas was invested at the Mount St. Agnes monastery in 1406. He did not become ordained as a priest, however, until almost a decade later. He became a prolific copyist and writer. Thomas received priest's orders in 1413 and was made sub-prior of the monastery in 1429. The monastery was disturbed for a time because of the pope's rejection of the bishop-elect of Utrecht, Rudolf van Diepholt; otherwise, Thomas's life was a quiet one, his time being spent between devotional exercises, composition, and copying. He copied the Bible no fewer than four times, one of the copies being preserved at Darmstadt, Germany in five volumes. In its teachings he was widely read and his works abound in Biblical quotations, especially from the New Testament .
The Imitation Of Christ
Book one: Admonitions useful for a spiritual life
The book one has twenty five chapters. The first chapter itself calls us to follow Christ rejecting the vanities of the world. Thomas tells that the holy teaching of Jesus is greater than anything else in the world. He says “all that is in the world is vanity except to love God and to serve Him only” . The imitation of Christ is following Christ “He who follows Me, says Christ our saviour, walks not in darkness, for he will have the light of life” . The book one considers the intellectual as less compared to the following the teachings of Christ. A humble farm labourer who serves God is more acceptable to Him than an inquisitive philosopher who, constellations of heaven, wilfully forgets himself. He who knows himself well is mean and abject in his own sight, and takes no delight in the vain praise of men. We ought to also seek in Holy Scripture spiritual profit rather than elegance of style, and to read simple and devout books as gladly as books of high learning and wisdom . So Almighty God speaks to us in His scriptures in various manners, without regard for persons, but our curiosity often hinders us in reading scripture when we reason and argue things we should humbly and simply pass away.
Kempis writes that having affair with the material world will not give security. Seeking one’s own conscience will bring security. He tells that “The most holy men and women who ever lived fled, as far as they could, the company of worldly-minded men, and chose to serve God in the secret of their hearts” . Therefore silence is very important because in silence the conscience is not disturbed but it remains in the sight of God. He tells therefore that our Lord and His Angels will draw near and abide with those who, for the love of virtue, withdraw themselves from their acquaintances and from their worldly friends. This world of earth in which we live is not permanent. It can pass by any time. Therefore one must conduct oneself well during life on the earth.
The book one also deals with the day of judgement. We all will stand on the judgement day and have to be responsible for our acts on the earth. On the judgement day it will be a good and pure hearts that will give joys. All those who are deceived by devil will experience suffering. “Humble obedience will be exalted more highly than all worldly wisdom and policy, and a good clean conscience will make us more glade and merry that knowledge of all philosophy” .
Kempis asks us to be awake and diligent in the service of God. We need to move to perfection. He tells that “if you remain faithful and fervent in good deeds, without doubt our lord will be faithful and liberal to you in His reward” . Take heed to yourself, and stir yourself always to devotion. Admonish yourself, and whatever you do for others, do not forget yourself. You will profit in virtue just as far as you can break your own will and follow the will of God.
Book Two: Admonitions Leading To The Inner Life.
The book two continues the theme of the book one and emphasises the “inner rest”. “The kingdom of God is within you, says Christ, our saviour. Turn yourself, therefore with all your heart to God, and forsake this wretched world, and you will soon find great inward rest” . One must give to Christ, therefore free entrance into his heart and keep out all things that withstand his entrance. One should not be comforted with the worldly things. One needs to embrace the love of God in his life. Keeping one’s heart will bring favour from God. Being humble brings favours from God.
The glory of a good man is God’s testimony that he has a good conscience. Kempis gives importance to good conscience. A good conscience can bear many wrongs and is constandly merry and glad in adversities, but an evil conscience is always fearful and unquiet. The joy and gladness of a goon man is in his own conscience. Man sees the face, but God beholds the heart. Man beholds the deeds, but God beholds the intention of the deeds. The greatest reason why the gifts of grace do not easily come to us is that we are ungrateful to the Giver, and render no thanks to Him from all good things come. Grace is always given to those ready to give thanks for it, what is given to the humble man is taken away from a proud man. Whatever God permits to come to us is for our spiritual health. We should be ready to take up the cross gladly. There will be always cross in our lives. If we ignore any cross because it is heavy, be sure there will be harder one to carry.
Book Three: The Inward Speaking Of Christ To A Faithful Soul
This book is the longest among the four books. This book explains the instruction of Jesus to his disciples. The words of God must be heard with humility. My words are spiritual and cannot be comprehended fully by man’s intelligence. God expects us to be faithful until the end. Man has to offer himself fully to God. When the man can come to a perfect and full contempt and despising of himself, then he will have a full abundance of rest and peace in joy everlasting, according to the measure of his gift. My son , as much as you can abandon yourself and your own will, so much will you enter into Me. And as to desire nothing outwardly brings peace to a man’s soul, so a man, by an inward forsaking of himself, joins himself to God.
Book Four: Which Treats Especially Of The Sacrament Of The Altar
This book is based on the Blessed Sacrament. “The grace of this sacrament is marvellously and secretly hidden, and only the faithful people of God know it, for infidels and those who live in sin can have no sort of experience of it” . Those who cannot abandon all that is worldly, they cannot be true follower of Jesus. The one who receives communion ought to prepare himself for it with great diligence. One has to renounce all the sinful ways in order to become the disciples of Jesus. Kempis writes that bewares of much speaking, abide in some secret place, and keep yourself with your Lord God, for you have Him whom all the world cannot take from you. We have to offer our sinless life to God. We should be pure and completely surrender to God.
My Personal Reflection
Honestly I did not have any idea about this book before I started to read. I only knew about this book but never read it. I am very much impressed by this book. I started to read like a novel in the beginning. But as I was going through I really was inspired by the writing. As the book focuses on how to follow Christ I want to commit myself totally to God. After studying many things if I do not love God then all my studies is waste. This book has given me great inspiration to be a real follower of Jesus in my life. So far I took things for granted but now I have a new spirit of God that would enable me to abide with Christ.
As the world is moving with technological things it is also not easy to leave out the material world. I am so much attached to the material things that the teachings of Christ are not given much importance. But this book written in the 14th century invites me to detach myself from the worldly things and attach to God in all aspects of my life. Furthermore, I am not going to keep what I have learnt to myself alone but to let the whole world or my brothers and sisters know of the good news proclaimed by Kempis. In fact just as I have seen light through the reading of this book I will make sure the same light is given to those who are still in the darkness. It is said in the Gospels that the repentance of one sinner brings a great joy in heaven. Finally, I will like to express my profound gratitude to my Lecturer, Rev.Dr. Kocholickal who in many occasions encouraged me to read at least one of the spiritual books in order to increase my intimate relationship with God. In fact his piece of advice has made a lot of imparts on me. However, I invite everybody to read this book for the enrichment of his or her spiritual faculty and for his or her own spiritual growth.
Conclusion
This inspirational book the imitation of Christ is one of the widely read in the world. It explains how one can be attached to follow Christ in all circumstances. I was inspired by this book and I am sure many people have already been inspired by this book. This book invites everyone to take every situation of life as being in the presence of God. The great thing we can do in this world is to follow Christ. This is the best we can do in this world. As I was reading about this book I came across that Swami Vivekananda, the 19th century Hindu philosopher and founder of Vedanta Society, drew a number of parallels between the teachings of the Imitation and the Bagavad Gita. He would always carry a copy of the Bagavad Gita and the Imitation. Filipino national Hero Jose Rizal reportedly read this book while in prison in Manila, in the Philippines before his execution . This in fact inspired me to continue reading this book to be a real follower of Jesus.
Bibliography
KEMPIS,T. The Imitation Of Christ, New York: Hanover House, 1955.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Imitation_of_Christ.
Summary and Reflection
Introduction
The book imitation of Christ by Thomas A kembis is a Christian devotional book. This book is one of the most widely read book in the world. This book is regarded as devotional and religious classic. The Imitation of Christ is divided into four books which provide us with explanation of spiritual instructions. I have tried to give the summary of this book. I have not covered all the points from the book. I took to myself what inspired me as I read the book. I have also given my reflection at the end as what inspired me. But I have tried my best to produce from the book imitation of Christ. I would like to acknowledge my source. I used the book the imitation of Christ and some internet resources.
Thomas a kempis
Thomas a kembis was born at the Lower Rhine region in Kempen, Germany, County of Cleves ca.1380. His paternal name was Hemerken, Kleverlandish means little hammer. His father John was a blacksmith and his mother, Gertrude was a school-mistress. In 1392 he followed his brother, Jan, to Deventer, Netherlands in order to attend the city school. While attending school in Deventer, Thomas encountered the Brethren of the Common Life, followers of Gerard Groote's Modern Devotion. He attended school in Deventer from 1392 to 1399.
After leaving school, Thomas traveled to Zwolle, Netherlands to visit his brother again, after Jan had become the prior of the Mount St. Agnes monastery. Thereafter, Thomas was invested at the Mount St. Agnes monastery in 1406. He did not become ordained as a priest, however, until almost a decade later. He became a prolific copyist and writer. Thomas received priest's orders in 1413 and was made sub-prior of the monastery in 1429. The monastery was disturbed for a time because of the pope's rejection of the bishop-elect of Utrecht, Rudolf van Diepholt; otherwise, Thomas's life was a quiet one, his time being spent between devotional exercises, composition, and copying. He copied the Bible no fewer than four times, one of the copies being preserved at Darmstadt, Germany in five volumes. In its teachings he was widely read and his works abound in Biblical quotations, especially from the New Testament .
The Imitation Of Christ
Book one: Admonitions useful for a spiritual life
The book one has twenty five chapters. The first chapter itself calls us to follow Christ rejecting the vanities of the world. Thomas tells that the holy teaching of Jesus is greater than anything else in the world. He says “all that is in the world is vanity except to love God and to serve Him only” . The imitation of Christ is following Christ “He who follows Me, says Christ our saviour, walks not in darkness, for he will have the light of life” . The book one considers the intellectual as less compared to the following the teachings of Christ. A humble farm labourer who serves God is more acceptable to Him than an inquisitive philosopher who, constellations of heaven, wilfully forgets himself. He who knows himself well is mean and abject in his own sight, and takes no delight in the vain praise of men. We ought to also seek in Holy Scripture spiritual profit rather than elegance of style, and to read simple and devout books as gladly as books of high learning and wisdom . So Almighty God speaks to us in His scriptures in various manners, without regard for persons, but our curiosity often hinders us in reading scripture when we reason and argue things we should humbly and simply pass away.
Kempis writes that having affair with the material world will not give security. Seeking one’s own conscience will bring security. He tells that “The most holy men and women who ever lived fled, as far as they could, the company of worldly-minded men, and chose to serve God in the secret of their hearts” . Therefore silence is very important because in silence the conscience is not disturbed but it remains in the sight of God. He tells therefore that our Lord and His Angels will draw near and abide with those who, for the love of virtue, withdraw themselves from their acquaintances and from their worldly friends. This world of earth in which we live is not permanent. It can pass by any time. Therefore one must conduct oneself well during life on the earth.
The book one also deals with the day of judgement. We all will stand on the judgement day and have to be responsible for our acts on the earth. On the judgement day it will be a good and pure hearts that will give joys. All those who are deceived by devil will experience suffering. “Humble obedience will be exalted more highly than all worldly wisdom and policy, and a good clean conscience will make us more glade and merry that knowledge of all philosophy” .
Kempis asks us to be awake and diligent in the service of God. We need to move to perfection. He tells that “if you remain faithful and fervent in good deeds, without doubt our lord will be faithful and liberal to you in His reward” . Take heed to yourself, and stir yourself always to devotion. Admonish yourself, and whatever you do for others, do not forget yourself. You will profit in virtue just as far as you can break your own will and follow the will of God.
Book Two: Admonitions Leading To The Inner Life.
The book two continues the theme of the book one and emphasises the “inner rest”. “The kingdom of God is within you, says Christ, our saviour. Turn yourself, therefore with all your heart to God, and forsake this wretched world, and you will soon find great inward rest” . One must give to Christ, therefore free entrance into his heart and keep out all things that withstand his entrance. One should not be comforted with the worldly things. One needs to embrace the love of God in his life. Keeping one’s heart will bring favour from God. Being humble brings favours from God.
The glory of a good man is God’s testimony that he has a good conscience. Kempis gives importance to good conscience. A good conscience can bear many wrongs and is constandly merry and glad in adversities, but an evil conscience is always fearful and unquiet. The joy and gladness of a goon man is in his own conscience. Man sees the face, but God beholds the heart. Man beholds the deeds, but God beholds the intention of the deeds. The greatest reason why the gifts of grace do not easily come to us is that we are ungrateful to the Giver, and render no thanks to Him from all good things come. Grace is always given to those ready to give thanks for it, what is given to the humble man is taken away from a proud man. Whatever God permits to come to us is for our spiritual health. We should be ready to take up the cross gladly. There will be always cross in our lives. If we ignore any cross because it is heavy, be sure there will be harder one to carry.
Book Three: The Inward Speaking Of Christ To A Faithful Soul
This book is the longest among the four books. This book explains the instruction of Jesus to his disciples. The words of God must be heard with humility. My words are spiritual and cannot be comprehended fully by man’s intelligence. God expects us to be faithful until the end. Man has to offer himself fully to God. When the man can come to a perfect and full contempt and despising of himself, then he will have a full abundance of rest and peace in joy everlasting, according to the measure of his gift. My son , as much as you can abandon yourself and your own will, so much will you enter into Me. And as to desire nothing outwardly brings peace to a man’s soul, so a man, by an inward forsaking of himself, joins himself to God.
Book Four: Which Treats Especially Of The Sacrament Of The Altar
This book is based on the Blessed Sacrament. “The grace of this sacrament is marvellously and secretly hidden, and only the faithful people of God know it, for infidels and those who live in sin can have no sort of experience of it” . Those who cannot abandon all that is worldly, they cannot be true follower of Jesus. The one who receives communion ought to prepare himself for it with great diligence. One has to renounce all the sinful ways in order to become the disciples of Jesus. Kempis writes that bewares of much speaking, abide in some secret place, and keep yourself with your Lord God, for you have Him whom all the world cannot take from you. We have to offer our sinless life to God. We should be pure and completely surrender to God.
My Personal Reflection
Honestly I did not have any idea about this book before I started to read. I only knew about this book but never read it. I am very much impressed by this book. I started to read like a novel in the beginning. But as I was going through I really was inspired by the writing. As the book focuses on how to follow Christ I want to commit myself totally to God. After studying many things if I do not love God then all my studies is waste. This book has given me great inspiration to be a real follower of Jesus in my life. So far I took things for granted but now I have a new spirit of God that would enable me to abide with Christ.
As the world is moving with technological things it is also not easy to leave out the material world. I am so much attached to the material things that the teachings of Christ are not given much importance. But this book written in the 14th century invites me to detach myself from the worldly things and attach to God in all aspects of my life. Furthermore, I am not going to keep what I have learnt to myself alone but to let the whole world or my brothers and sisters know of the good news proclaimed by Kempis. In fact just as I have seen light through the reading of this book I will make sure the same light is given to those who are still in the darkness. It is said in the Gospels that the repentance of one sinner brings a great joy in heaven. Finally, I will like to express my profound gratitude to my Lecturer, Rev.Dr. Kocholickal who in many occasions encouraged me to read at least one of the spiritual books in order to increase my intimate relationship with God. In fact his piece of advice has made a lot of imparts on me. However, I invite everybody to read this book for the enrichment of his or her spiritual faculty and for his or her own spiritual growth.
Conclusion
This inspirational book the imitation of Christ is one of the widely read in the world. It explains how one can be attached to follow Christ in all circumstances. I was inspired by this book and I am sure many people have already been inspired by this book. This book invites everyone to take every situation of life as being in the presence of God. The great thing we can do in this world is to follow Christ. This is the best we can do in this world. As I was reading about this book I came across that Swami Vivekananda, the 19th century Hindu philosopher and founder of Vedanta Society, drew a number of parallels between the teachings of the Imitation and the Bagavad Gita. He would always carry a copy of the Bagavad Gita and the Imitation. Filipino national Hero Jose Rizal reportedly read this book while in prison in Manila, in the Philippines before his execution . This in fact inspired me to continue reading this book to be a real follower of Jesus.
Bibliography
KEMPIS,T. The Imitation Of Christ, New York: Hanover House, 1955.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Imitation_of_Christ.
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