Tag Archives: Thomas a Kempis

Christian Living, Religion and Spirituality

Sabbatum Excerpt: Self-Denial from the Imitation of Christ

1 Comment

My child, you cannot have perfect liberty unless you completely deny yourself.1

Those who only seek their own interests and are lovers of themselves are in chains – they are coveteous, curious, wanderers who always seek things that appeal to them and not the things of Jesus Christ, and often devise and plan things that will not succeed.

For all that is not of God will fail.

Keep this short and perfect word: “Give up everything and you will find everything.”2 Give up every immoderate desire and you will find rest.

Consider this well, and when you have put it into practice you will understand all things.

O Lord, this is not the work of one day or the sport of children – indeed, in that short sentence is all the perfection of spiritual people.

1 Matthew 16:24-25

2 Matthew 19:27-29

Kempis, Thomas A. “Book III: Internal Consolation.” The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Harold J. Chadwick. New Jersey: Bridge-Logos, 1999. 174. Print.

Advertisement
Devotion, Spiritual Classics

Monday Devotion: Excerpt from The Imitation of Christ

Leave a comment

Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross, and Offering Ourselves

The Voice of the Beloved

Of my own freewill I offered Myself to God the Father for your sins1 – My arms were outstretched on the Cross and My body naked, so that nothing remained in Me that was not completely turned into a sacrifice to make propitiation for your sins.2

In the same way, you should offer ourself willingly to Me every day in holy communion as a pure and “living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service,”3 together with all your strength and affections, and with all the inward devotion that you can.

What more do I require of you than that you abandon yourself entirely to Me?

whatever You would give Me besides yourself is of no value to Me, for I seek you4 and not your gifts.

_____________________

Scripture Reference:

1 Isaiah 53:5, Hebrews 9:28

2 Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2, 4:10

3 Romans 12:1

4 Proverbs 23:26

________________________

Thomas a Kempis, Imitation of Christ (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge Logos, 1999), 263-264. Print.

Christian Living, Devotion, Religion and Spirituality

Monday Devotion: Thomas à Kempis on Solitude

Leave a comment

Thomas à Kempis  (c.1379 – 1471)

Background and Context

Thomas à Kempis, a classic devotion contributor to Christian world in fourteenth century was a member of the Brethren of the Common life. It was a religious community found in Holland to provide education and care for the poor. Kempis was a well educated intellectual icon of his time who was a spiritual director in a branch of the Augustinians. In other words, Kempis was a spiritual leader to lead young men into spirituality who wanted to learn under the order of Augustinian. Continue reading Monday Devotion: Thomas à Kempis on Solitude →