Thomas à Kempis 
The Imitation of Christ 

Foreword

BOOK ONE: THOUGHTS HELPFUL IN THE LIFE OF THE SOUL

1. Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth

2. Having a Humble Opinion of Self

3. The Doctrine of Truth

4. Prudence in Action

5. Reading the Holy Scripture

6. Unbridled Affections

7. Avoiding False Hope and Pride

8. Shunning Over-Familiarity

9. Obedience and Subjection

10. Avoiding Idle Talk

11. Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Perfection

12. The Value of Adversity

13. Resisting Temptation

14. Avoiding Rash Judgment

15. Works Done in Charity

16. Bearing with the Faults of Others

17. Monastic Life

18. The Example Set Us by the Holy Fathers

19. The Practices of a Good Religious

20. The Love of Solitude and Silence

21. Sorrow of Heart

22. Thoughts on the Misery of Man

23. Thoughts on Death

24. Judgment and the Punishment of Sin

25. Zeal in Amending Our Lives

BOOK TWO: THE INTERIOR LIFE

1. Meditation

2. Humility

3. Goodness and Peace in Man

4. Purity of Mind and Unity of Purpose

5. Ourselves

6. The Joy of a Good Conscience

7. Loving Jesus Above All Things

8. The Intimate Friendship of Jesus

9. Wanting No Share in Comfort

10. Appreciating God’s Grace

11. Few Love the Cross of Jesus

12. The Royal Road of the Holy Cross

BOOK THREE: INTERNAL CONSOLATION

1. The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul

2. Truth Speaks Inwardly Without the Sound of Words

3. Listen Humbly to the Words of God. Many Do Not Heed Them

4. We Must Walk Before God in Humility and Truth

5. The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love

6. The Proving of a True Lover

7. Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility

8. Self-Abasement in the Sight of God

9. All Things Should be Referred to God as Their Last End

10. To Despise the World and Serve God Is Sweet

11. The Longings of Our Hearts Must Be Examined and Moderated

12. Acquiring Patience in the Fight Against Concupiscence

13. The Obedience of One Humbly Subject to the Example of Jesus Christ

14. Consider the Hidden Judgments of God Lest You Become Proud of Your Own Good Deeds

15. How One Should Feel and Speak on Every Desirable Thing

16. True Comfort Is to Be Sought in God Alone

17. All Our Care Is to Be Placed in God

18. Temporal Sufferings Should Be Borne Patiently, After the Example of Christ

19. True Patience in Suffering

20. Confessing Our Weakness in the Miseries of Life

21. Above All Goods and All Gifts We Must Rest in God

22. Remember the Innumerable Gifts of God

23. Four Things Which Bring Great Peace

24. Avoiding Curious Inquiry About the Lives of Others

25. The Basis of Firm Peace of Heart and True Progress

26. The Excellence of a Free Mind, Gained Through Prayer Rather Than by Study

27. Self-Love Is the Greatest Hindrance to the Highest Good

28. Strength Against Slander

29. How We Must Call Upon and Bless the Lord When Trouble Presses

30. The Quest of Divine Help and Confidence in Regaining Grace

31. To Find the Creator, Forsake All Creatures

32. Self-Denial and the Renunciation of Evil Appetites

33. Restlessness of Soul—Directing Our Final Intention Toward God

34. God Is Sweet Above All Things and in All Things to Those Who Love Him

35. There Is No Security from Temptation in This Life

36. The Vain Judgments of Men

37. Pure and Entire Resignation of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart

38. The Right Ordering of External Affairs; Recourse to God in Dangers

39. A Man Should Not be Unduly Solicitous About His Affairs

40. Man Has No Good in Himself and Can Glory in Nothing

41. Contempt for All Earthly Honor

42. Peace Is Not to be Placed in Men

43. Beware Vain and Worldly Knowledge

44. Do Not be Concerned About Outward Things

45. All Men Are Not to Be Believed, For It Is Easy to Err in Speech

46. Trust in God Against Slander

47. Every Trial Must Be Borne for the Sake of Eternal Life

48. The Day of Eternity and the Distresses of This Life

49. The Desire of Eternal Life; The Great Rewards Promised to Those Who Struggle

50. How a Desolate Person Ought to Commit Himself into the Hands of God

51. When We Cannot Attain to the Highest, We Must Practice the Humble Works

52. A Man Ought Not to Consider Himself Worthy of Consolation, But Rather Deserving of Chastisement

53. God’s Grace Is Not Given to the Earthly Minded

54. The Different Motions of Nature and Grace

55. The Corruption of Nature and the Efficacy of Divine Grace

56. We Ought to Deny Ourselves and Imitate Christ Through Bearing the Cross

57. A Man Should Not Be Too Downcast When He Falls into Defects

58. High Matters and the Hidden Judgments of God Are Not to Be Scrutinized

59. All Hope and Trust Are to Be Fixed in God Alone

BOOK FOUR: AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION

1. The Great Reverence with Which We Should Receive Christ

2. God’s Great Goodness and Love Is Shown to Man in This Sacrament

3. It Is Profitable to Receive Communion Often

4. Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily

5. The Dignity of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood

6. An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion

7. The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend

8. The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering

9. We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All

10. Do Not Lightly Forego Holy Communion

11. The Body of Christ and Sacred Scripture Are Most Necessary to a Faithful Soul

12. The Communicant Should Prepare Himself for Christ with Great Care

13. With All Her Heart the Devout Soul Should Desire Union with Christ in the Sacrament

14. The Ardent Longing of Devout Men for the Body of Christ

15. The Grace of Devotion Is Acquired Through Humility and Self-Denial

16. We Should Show Our Needs to Christ and Ask His Grace

17. The Burning Love and Strong Desire to Receive Christ

18. Man Should Not Scrutinize This Sacrament in Curiosity, but Humbly Imitate Christ and Submit Reason to Holy Faith

READER’S GUIDE

Questions for Contemplation