Thomas A. Kempis
The Imitation of Christ was written about five hundred years ago by
a German monk named Thomas A. Kempis. This mystical book guides the human soul
and mind towards the person of Jesus Christ. It helps the human heart to continuously
grow in the knowledge and experience of God, which means to simply and openly
imitate Him. It has served as a spiritual nourishment for all Christians. Besides
the Holy Bible, it is the most widely read book, with many editions. Its author
show forth the study of the fundamental texts of Christianity so as to reach to
a profound and direct relationship with God. This book’s greatest objective is
to instruct the soul for Christian perfection, seeking the way of love that
Jesus teaches us, the person of Jesus Christ being the main model and example
that is presented to us. The four books comprising the Imitation were initially independent treatises. The Imitation of Christ asks us the question:
“What sort of life is this, from which troubles and miseries are never absent,
where all things are full of snares?” The voice of Christ answers: “I am wont
to visit my elect in two ways— by temptation and consolation.... When you think
you are far from me, then often I am very near you.” We sense the exceptional
character of this mystical gem in a prayer to Christ: “Left to myself, I am
nothing but total weakness. But if you look upon me for an instant, I am at
once made strong and filled with new joy.”[1]
Through the four books contained in The Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis
demonstrates the infinite love and mercy of God as the Lord who became man because he
wanted to walk and live the experience of every human being so as to purify and
sanctify every moment, every feeling and every situation that humans can
experience throughout life. As man, the Son had to grow little by little as any
other human being and discover the Heavenly Father so as to love Him with all
of his being. He then chose to love all of humanity, even to the point of giving
His own life for our liberation from sin and to make us children of God
destined for the glory that He obtained for us at a price, that is, with His filial
obedience to the Father when He asked Him to give His life for humanity. “If
you will have life with Christ, you must learn how to die to the world, and if
you are to go freely to Christ, then you must learn how to despise all things.”[2]
The first book of the imitation of Christ speaks
to us about the different challenges and struggles we may face in order to
allow Jesus’ merciful love to transform and reform our hearts into his image
and likeness. To whoever wishes to follow Him there must be a renunciation and
desire to leave behind everything that, rather than bringing us close to him,
pushes us away. This may include different disordered passions, spirit of
selfishness and pride, fame, honors, high positions, fame, false joys that the
world offers, easy and comfortable life.
“If you want to make progress, keep your soul in the fear of God and never
wish to be completely free. Discipline your senses and never indulge in
hilarity. Have sorrow of your sins and you will find interior peace. Repentance
opens the way to many blessings, which dissipation soon destroys.”[3]
The second book presents to us different
considerations for leading a good interior life in Christ. To follow Christ is
not only about learning a simple teaching or to imitate exteriorly a virtuous
life. To truly follow Christ means to
conform our way of life to His way of life; that is, to live in his sentiments
and to truly partake of His life and mission. This willingness to live not
according to the flesh but according to the Spirit, in true humility, draws one
by discernment of spirits through prayer from imaginative and discursive
meditation about God, to an awareness of His presence independent of
imagination and reason.[4]
The commitment to follow Christ does not know any pause nor stops, but entails the constant
response to grace and the desire to attain the perfection of the Father who is
in heaven. “Those who love Jesus and the truth, who lead an interior life free
from unruly affections, can turn to God at will, lift themselves up in spirit
and repose in Christ with joy.”[5]
We must always live in the presence of God, never interrupting the common
exercises of piety, keeping us humble and always working for our spiritual
health, having fear of God, but with no less confidence in God's omnipotent
mercy.
The third book invites us to an interior
conversation with Christ. God does not make His voice heard in the midst of
turmoil and worldly uncertainties, but rather He leads the soul into loneliness
and silence so as to speak directly to it, for He is not among the worldly
noise, nor among the tremor of the earth; nor yet within the consuming burning
fire, but rather in the inner silence of the soul. Thomas A. Kempis points out
to us the absolute urge and necessity to be away from things outside the body,
and as far as we can with the heart, so that we are in a favorable condition to
perceive the divine word of God, which does not certainly come to the ears of
the faithful if they are distracted by the resounding clamor of the world. “Blessed
are the ears that heed the inner whisper of the Lord, and pay no attention to
the deceitful murmurings of this world; and blessed indeed are the ears which
do not listen to the loud voices from the outside, but instead are attentive to
Him, who inwardly teaches the truth.”[6]
The fourth book of Imitation is dedicated to the Eucharist and is one of the most
beautiful treatises ever written about the Blessed Sacrament. Thomas A. Kempis
expresses that
the faithful, convinced of the need to be well
prepared for the Holy Communion and the incapability to do so by himself, must
beg Jesus to give him a living faith, simplicity of heart, peace with himself
and neighbor, contempt of human consolations, zeal, fervor, trust and
especially humility and charity towards God. These are the necessary
dispositions in order to be worthy of receiving the greatest gift, who is Jesus
Christ himself. “I ask nothing more of you than this: your efforts to surrender
yourself wholly to me. I care for nothing else that you can give besides
yourself; for it is not your gift but you that I seek.”[7]
If one comes to Holy Communion with all these dispositions, both our hearts and
minds will be enlightened and enriched by many heavenly gifts and goods.
Therefore, this book teaches us that the best way to prepare for Holy Communion
is by making Jesus the one and only King of our hearts. That is, that He can
absolutely govern our hearts and for us to obey Him in everything and never
deny him anything, for He comes to us as a king of goodness to take possession
of our soul and reign over all our passions and above all our affections.
Through this ascetical and mystical book,
Thomas A. Kempis offers practical advice to help us elevate our hearts to God,
without, however taking off our feet from the ground… "Let your heart
remain free and lifted up to God, for you have not here a lasting city.
Persevere in prayer, sending you aspirations daily up to God, so that at the
hour of death your soul may depart from this world and go to its Lord.”[8]
[1] Cameron, Peter
John. "A Re-Appreciation: The Imitation of Christ." America, vol.
216, no. 3, 06 Feb. 2017, p. 36. EBSCOhost,search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=121282138&authtype=cookie,cpid&custid=s9245834&site=ehost-live&scope=site
[2] Kempis, Thomas A., and Clare L. Fitzpatrick. The
Imitation of Christ in Four Books. New York: Catholic Book Pub., 1993. N.
page.55
[4] Levko, John J.
"The Relationship of Prayer to Discretion and Spiritual Direction for John
Cassian." St Vladimir's Theological Quarterly, vol. 40, no. 3, 1996, pp.
155-171. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001016411&authtype=cookie,cpid&custid=s9245834&site=ehost-live&scope=site
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