The Imitation of Christ Audio CD – CD, March 31, 2011

"For a little reward men make a long journey; for eternal life many will scarce lift a foot once from the ground." ~ (Locations 1125-29)In a world where prosperity gospel is preached without any shame, this book may require some serious contemplation. The idea of selling everything you own and then becoming a monk doesn't work for most people. So while this book was written for monks and the message is beautiful and healing, not all the ideas would work for say a person who is married or not fully committed to Christ in body and soul.Each chapter is quite short and the author makes his points succinctly. Thomas A. Kempis was a keen observer of life and points out many pitfalls for the spiritually minded. He encourages readers to get rid of worldly desires and explains that carnal men have no peace. He explains how having a lot of knowledge profits you little if you are not living a holy life.Thomas A. Kempis believed that you should have the mind of Christ in order to understand the words of Christ. This seems logical enough. However Thomas A. Kempis had a deep understanding of human nature and in this book he reveals how vulnerable we are and how we need to humbly admit our faults to God."...true peace of heart is to be found in resisting passion, not in yielding to it."This book presents some very compelling arguments in favor of living a pure life. "Eternal Torments" are mentioned quite a few times. The main argument seems to be about how we should be able to resist temptation in this life as it will be much more difficult to endure eternal damnation. Thomas A. Kempis encourages the reader to focus on self-mastery and to unlearn evil habits. He especially encourages monks to fight against concupiscence. This advice might not work so well if you are married.One of the things I loved about this book is the many prayers presented throughout the book. To put it mildly, lukewarm spirituality is not encouraged. There is a sense that the person praying these prayers is giving their entire life to God. I felt that these prayers were some of the most beautiful I've ever read.This is a book that I will read again and again like a devotional book. It truly takes you through a variety of emotions from despair to elation. This book will show you how to have a penitent heart, filled with humbleness and the desire to commit more fully to a more spiritual life.~The Rebecca ReviewA second reading of the Digireads version years later produced this review:Spiritual Guidance, Wisdom and Instructions on the Divine Life“The Imitation of Christ” is Thomas a Kempis' (1380-1471) most famous work and some say it is almost as popular as the Bible. The reason may be that many Christians were seeking the joy and peace Thomas Kempis had discovered because of his faith. He lived in trying times when there were many wars and the black plague was still killing a lot of people. Instead of being overly worried about life's challenges, Thomas Kempis said: “That the highest wisdom is to cast the world behind us and to reach forward to the heavenly kingdom.”This book reads like the most wise holy advice you could encounter. There is much discussion on how to be holy and humble instead of being proud. A lot of the book resonated with my own personal experience of loving God and what I've seen in others' lives, good or bad.While reading you have to remember that this book was originally written for monks and priests not married couples. So when he talks about not desiring human affection, that is not wrong in itself, but was a choice religious people have sometimes made in order to reach spiritual heights and rely on God alone. And when the author talks about “contempt of thyself” this seems to be more about getting angry at your sins not hating yourself.Self-esteem is important because we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. So God does not require us to hate ourselves. And there is one instance where the author talks about giving up your opinion for the opinion of others. I'm not sure Jesus ever did that! It may be kind to do it, but it could also end up being the wrong opinion in regards to good and evil.Also, for Protestants reading this Catholic book, Communion is an issue you have to deal with in this book. The sections read well but Protestants don't all believe that the bread and wine actually become Christ's body and blood. That is all at the end of the book so you can skip that section or believe as you will.Thomas Kempis writes with inspired authority as one who knows the truth and is unashamed. He says: “Oh, grievous folly, to neglect the things which are profitable and necessary, and to give our minds to things which are curious and hurtful! Having eyes, we see not.”Some of the topics this book covers include: inward consolation, man's judgment (why it is not important in the long run), avoiding gossip, how not to envy, renouncing the world, vain-glory, temptation, adversities, friendship, peace, avoiding having a carnal heart, self-mastery (one of the highest goals), grace, virtue, patience, rapture, purity, a happy death (what leads to it) and why we should avoid vain babbling. A lot of soul searching has to be done when reading about these topics.Throughout the book I never felt like Thomas Kempis was talking down to the reader. He seems more like a kind brother giving spiritual advice to those who really want to become more like Jesus. Some of this book is written so Jesus' real words are slipped into the text with no chapter and verse. This makes for easy reading and it flows nicely. The voice in this book changes constantly which makes for a interesting reading experience.In this book there are several prayers. The two I loved most were: A Prayer for Enlightenment of the Mind and A Prayer for Heavenly Wisdom.It did occur to me while reading that it would be a joy to meet someone who had read this book and had taken it to heart. How like Jesus that person would be. So if your heart longs to be closer to Jesus and have a relationship with him, this is a rare and beautiful experience.~The Rebecca Review

I was hoping for a nice, readable version of this 1993 print. This is in near perfect condition - its beautiful, clean, I'm so happy I got this. Shipped quickly, packaged nicely. I will keep this seller in mind for future purchases. Very impressed.

Many short chapters to help one understand ones faith. A great read for believers and non-believers. Good book to read each night

This book has wonderful, short prompts for meditation that can help any Christian grow in their personal relationship with Jesus.

Good read

The truth in this book is powerful!!!

I actually prefer the more religious translation of the text.But this was ok. Still a classic that every Christian should read!

"Want to know the best advice I ever heard?" asked Larry King, in an interview published today in Canada's National Post newspaper: "I never learned ANYTHING while I was talking." 50 years experience at the interviewer's microphone and Larry's best advice comes down to one word. "Listen!"Coincidentally (or maybe not!) I picked up this just-received book, sent to me by a dear friend who recalled my reviewing an earlier published edition of this same "Ronald Knox translation." And it literally fell open to these words,"By all means ask questions, but LISTEN to what holy writers have to tell you . . . often enough, (when we hear) Holy Scripture, we are distracted by mere curiosity; we want to seize upon some point and argue about it, when we ought to (listen) and move on."I flipped open "The Imitation" just now and my eyes (lately fixated on my newest pride and joy were these: (p 32 under the heading, "ABOUT SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND HOW TO GET RID OF SELF-CONCEIT")"It is nonsense to depend for your happiness on created things (and) why all this self-importance? Do not boast of riches, if you happen to possess them . . . nor about the important friends you have; boast rather of God's friendship."Do not give yourself airs, if you have physical strength or beauty; it only takes a spell of illness to waste the one, or mar the other. Do not be self-satisfied about your own skill or cleverness; God is hard to satisfy, and it is from him that they come, all these gifts of nature."He reads our thoughts, and will only think the worse of you, if you think yourself better than other people. Even your good actions must not be a source of pride to you: If you have any good qualities to show for yourself, credit your neighbor with even better qualities: that is the way to be humble."To be humble is to enjoy undisturbed peace of mind, while the proud heart is swept with gusts of envy and resentment."----Seven years ago (on my birthday actually) I wrote my very first review for Amazon.com -- for an earlier re-print of this same translation. This latest version, from Ignatius Press of San Francisco, is far-and-away the most beautiful and features cover art by Andrea Solario (1480-1540) from the "Galleria Borghese, Rome" -- painted about a century after Thomas a Kempis produced his "Imitation." Inside artwork includes some marvelous, same-period woodcuts by Albrecht Durer.----In his (2005) FOREWARD to this new edition, psychologist and priest Benedict Groeschel (seen by millions on his "Sunday Night Live" TV show on EWTN) recalls stealing his first copy of the "Imitation" from the public library in his Caldwell NJ hometown - slipping it into his schoolbag intending to return it "to its rightful place on the shelf, in two weeks time, the ordinary period for a book loan in those days.""The title suggested to my 12-year-old mind that this must be a story about someone who pretended to be Jesus. I went and sat by a window . . . the spring sun (shining) on the oak table, I can still see my blue-sweatered arm around the book as I began to read:"'Vanity of Vanities - all is vanity except to love God and serve him alone.' At that moment I was electrified, and I sat there reading page after page . . . . for two hours, mesmerized by the book!"----As for the translation? Is it really the best-ever? I stand by my thoughts of seven years ago:"I have several translations of the Imitation but I keep coming back to this one. I believe many readers will find this translation 'flows' better than the others, written as it is in a warm, gentle and accessible style by a master translator and communicator, Monsignor Ronald Knox. A convert to Catholicism who produced an acclaimed Latin-to-English translation of the Bible, Knox completed the first 30 or so chapters of the Imitation before his death in 1957. He wrote to Michael Oakley, two months before his passing: "If I die without finishing my translation, please tell my executors that you are to finish it." The younger Latin scholar did a splendid, seamless job of completing Knox's superb translation of what was--until this century--the second most widely read book in the world. What a delight that this version is once again available, [50 years] after its first publication. If you purchase only one copy of the Imitation in your lifetime, make it this one."

The Imitation of Christ consists of four books with short chapters in each book. The core message of the work is humility, and for Christians to shut out the world and deny himself. It also discusses the importance of the Sacrament of Eucharist. I was drawn to this book after reading St Therese of Lisieux's 'Story of a Soul'. St Therese was clearly greatly inspired by Kempis' work, and lived her life based on the teachings of this book.At superficial level, one might have the idea that the teachings in this book require holiness of the highest degree. A disciple of Christ would need to shut out the world and devote himself only to Jesus. Not all humans can fully shut out the world. Upon deeper reading, I see this book more as a devotion rather than a list of rules. At the core of its message is the urge for Christians to live in humility and humbleness, and to glorify nothing and no one but God. That God Himself is enough. I understand that un-holiness is a nature of the disciple, that I am unholy, but that doesn't mean that I can't be close to Jesus and live with Him and He in me. My lack of holiness is the very reason why I should follow Him and remain close to him. Reading this book makes me realise that many of the unhappiness in this world is actually caused by human's desire to glorify himself and the world, rather than God. If humans can learn to live in humility and ascribe glory to God and God alone, many people can be spared from a lot of sufferings and heartaches.The book contains not only teachings, but also prayers that I can use daily as my own. I'm very blessed by this book, and would recommend it to all Christians seeking to live a holy life.

I agree with the publisher's blurb that this is the best translation from the original Latin - at least that I personally have come across.Credit must be given not only to Ronald Knox, but also Michael Oakley. Knox was a long term devotee of The Imitation, so began to work on the translation with his engaging, passionate, poetic, very readable style, as befits the spiritual tone set by Thomas a-Kempis. However serious illness overtook, and it was his wish for classical scholar Michael Oakley to complete the translation for publication - by implication following seamlessly in the Knox style. According to the 1959 Foreward over half was rendered by Oakley, from chapter 5 of Book II onwards.Books III and IV of The Imitation hold a particularly vibrant dynamic. A touching and disarming conversation between TAK the disciple and Christ ('The Learner' and 'The Beloved'). This type of spiritual writing has been termed interior locution - putting into words the feeling of what God is saying to the soul. It is there for instance in the 14th Century contemporary Julian of Norwich. It could also be termed 'the gift of prophecy' - cf. 1 Corinthians 12 etc. It can be found in many other Christian and spiritual publications, such as the 20th Century 'God Calling'.For me the absolute purple patch of the whole work is Chapter 21 of Book III - outstanding. I have uploaded audio renditions of this to You Tube.If you are looking for a good version of The Imitation, my advice is track down this benchmark Knox-Oakley. And bravo to Ignatius Press for republishing the formerly out of print Burns and Oates.

Kindle version of a religious classic. This is a wonderful little book to have on kindle as admirers of this book would want to carry it everywhere. Although centuries old, it is still remarkably relavang today in our modern society though written by a cloistered monk! Feel free to skip over the corporal mortification passages, I'm sure God doesn't expect you to whip yourself to show penance, but a guide by which I believe anyone would imagine wanting to live their lives by. Peace, harmony, love, kindness, quietness, wisdom, respect and holiness.

One of the best Christian books I have ever read. Only next to the Holy Bible.

It looks nice and the translation is enjoyable. However this book should have (IMO) been slightly wider. I say this because its pages are slightly too narrow which means the text on the pages are bound to the spine too closely, causing you to put effort in holding the page flat; otherwise when reading the text it has a slight curve to it.I find it a little annoying and not had a book with this problem before but it is still a worthy purchase. I read a chapter a day (sometimes more.)