"The Imitation of Christ": A Book Review

“Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God.”¹ 

A beloved Christian classic which was once the most widely read book in the world after the Bible,² “The Imitation of Christ” was written by Thomas á Kempis between 1390 and 1440.³ Its twin work, “The Imitation of Mary,” is also credited to á Kempis. The style of this monumental work is simple, making it an easy read even for a modern audience, and its content is as powerful and relevant to Christians today as it was when á Kempis first wrote it.

            The title of this work captures its purpose: to help the reader progress toward holiness and salvation by imitating Christ. The work is comprised of four books, each of which is divided into many small chapters, perfect for those with a limited time for reading and reflection.

            Book One of “The Imitation of Christ” is entitled “Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul,” and contains a series of short reflections on a variety of topics designed to help the reader in the initial stages of his spiritual journey toward imitating Christ. Because this Book is geared toward “beginners,” there is a strong emphasis on the need to despise worldly things, reject pride, grow in humility, and embrace suffering as a penance for sin and a key to spiritual growth.

Book Two is called “The Interior Life,” and in this book á Kempis takes the reader a step further by first reiterating important exhortations to humility and purity, and then moving forward to meditate on gaining the friendship of Jesus, appreciating His grace, and loving the holy Cross which is inseparable from Him.

            Book Three, “Internal Consolation,” introduces a stylistic change in the work. Up to this point, á Kempis has been addressing the reader in a series of short sermons or reflections. Now the text becomes a conversation between the reader (“The Disciple”) and Christ (“The Voice of Christ”). In this new format, the reader is able to enter into a deep conversation with his Lord on such important topics as complete trust in God, hearing voice of truth, the need to humbly heed the words of God, the consolation of despising the world, patience in suffering, and rest in God.

Book Four is called “An Invitation to Holy Communion.” As any relationship with Christ must center on His Eucharistic presence, this last Book constitutes the final step toward the imitation of Christ. Continuing with the format of a conversation, the Disciple questions Christ on how often and how best to receive Holy Communion, and Christ, answering, calls the Disciple to receive Him often and gratefully. Union with Christ in Holy Communion is the best way to get to know Him and therefore the best way to learn to imitate Him. “The Imitation of Christ” concludes with an exhortation by Christ that “man should not scrutinize this Sacrament in curiosity, but humbly imitate Christ and submit reason to holy Faith.”⁴  

           “The Imitation of Christ” has always been one of my favorite spiritual books. Besides being easy to understand and split into “bite-sized” sections perfect for short periods of spiritual reading, I have found this little work to be a powerful instrument of grace in my own life. Whenever I take up this book, I take up a humbling but joyful journey with Thomas á Kempis toward a closer friendship with Jesus Christ. The structure of the book, as it builds up from simple exhortations to a heart-to-heart conversation with Christ, culminating in an invitation to unite with Him in the Holy Eucharist, carries the mind, heart, and soul of the reader through the different stages of a developing relationship with Christ. I believe that the sincere Christian who reads this book with an open heart will not simply learn about Christ: he will come to know Christ. Coming to know Him, he will recognize Christ as his dearest friend. Recognizing Him as his dearest friend, he will try to grow closer to Christ every day by imitating Him in everything.   

“What more do I ask than that you give yourself entirely to Me? I care not for anything else you may give Me, for I seek not your gift but you.”⁵

1. Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, trans. Aloysius Croft and Harold Bolton (Milwaukee, WI: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1940), 3.

2. Aloysius Croft and Harold Bolton, Foreword, The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas á Kempis, trans. Aloysius Croft and Harold Bolton (Milwaukee, WI: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1940), vi.

3. Britannica Academic, s.v. "Imitation of Christ," accessed March 9, 2017 [http://academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/Imitation-of-Christ/42187].

4. Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, 255.

5. Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, 232.

Images:

1. “By Couceiro - my own picture, Public Domain” [https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12115214]

2. “By Thomas à Kempis (1379-1471), Public Domain” [https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32414657]

3. “By Heinrich Hofmann - Finnish Translated special high quality print of Thomas Kempis De imitatione Christi, Public Domain” [https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2373884]

4. “By Heinrich Hofmann - Finnish Translation of Thomas Kempis De imitiatione Christi, Public Domain” [https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2373930]