The Imitation of Christ
by Thomas à Kempis
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Pub Date Aug 11 2017 | Archive Date Oct 17 2017
Ave Maria Press | Christian Classics
Description
“What would Jesus do?"
That’s the primary question Thomas à Kempis answers in his universally acclaimed work, The Imitation of Christ. In 114 short chapters organized into four simple parts, this handbook on the spiritual life offers guidance on dozens of topics such as resisting temptation, avoiding hasty judgments, putting up with others’ faults, remembering God’s many blessings, self-surrender, minding our own business, and performing humble works.
William Creasy succeeds in creating a dramatically different interpretation of The Imitation of Christ by working through its historical, cultural, and linguistic contexts.
This book inspired the likes of St. Thomas More, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Thérèse of Lisieux, Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merton. Along with such classics as Augustine’s Confessions, Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle, and Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises, The Imitation of Christ continues to confront each generation of readers with the perennial truths of the Gospel.
A Note From the Publisher
William C. Creasy taught in the English Department at the University of California, Los Angeles for twenty-five years, retiring in 2005. He translated The Imitation of Christ in 1987.
Rev. Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R., is a teacher, writer, and poet who holds the John Cardinal Krol Chair of Moral Theology as a scholar-in-residence at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Advance Praise
“Creasy has done the Body of Christ a great service in giving us this translation. Through it, may The Imitation continue to nourish, refresh, challenge, and cajole Christians of all ages and anyone–believers and non-believers alike–seriously considering embarking on the spiritual journey. It would be difficult to find a more faithful, accessible, and easy-to-read contemporary English rendering of the text.”
From the foreword by Rev. Dennis J. Billy, C.Ss.R.
John Cardinal Krol Chair of Moral Theology
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
“The unchallenged masterpiece of devotional literature for half a millennium. Christians worldwide have been immensely enriched by this simple book.”
Richard J. Foster
Christian theologian
“William Creasy’s version of The Imitation of Christ is more than a new translation of a timeless work. It is a re-creation of a 560-year-old classic that infuses it with life and meaning for contemporary readers.”
Renovaré
Englewood, Colorado
“For a long time I had nourished my spiritual life with the ‘fine flour’ contained in The Imitation of Christ. It was the only book which did me good, for I had not yet found the treasures hidden in the Holy Gospels. I always had it with me, to the amusement of my people at home.”
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
“The Imitation of Christ is a book that followed me through my days. Again and again I came across copies of it and the reading of it brought me comfort. I felt in the background of my life a waiting force that would lift me up eventually.”
Dorothy Day
Founder of The Catholic Worker Movement
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9780870612312 |
| PRICE | $17.95 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Meg E, Reviewer
The Imitation of Christ is newly translated. The new translation is to appeal to a "modern reader". It is well done and reads more like a friendly advice book than a laborious translation from the Latin.
This is a fantastic book that has no beginning and no end. You can pick it up at any point and get sound advice about how to live your life in a peaceful manner.
While many generations are falling away from organized religion, there is still sound advice that is to be had about friendships, gossip, knowledge and usefulness in this book.
Pick it up to read cover to cover, read it in bits and pieces, or use it as a devotional but absolutely read it and find some great comfort in being a decent person.
Lisa S, Reviewer
There are more editions and translations of this Christian classic than any other work of Christian literature, and it has given strength to many famous people over the years, including Dietrich Bonheoffer and Edith Cavell. Maggie Tulliver in The Mill on the Floss thought that it turned 'bitter waters into sweetness'. I have always thought that it would be a bit daunting to read but Dr Creasy's wonderful translation makes it accessable and easy to understand although I found it best to read a little bit at a time!
This classic is meant to accompany a person on his or her spiritual journey through life but it is not altogetherr comforting. A Kempis discusses, it is not easy to follow the Cross and it can mean endurance and suffering. However, it also brings the 'peace beyond understanding'. This little book is full of wisdom, such as the importance of avoiding becoming emotionally or spiritually dependent on other people, avoiding gossip and idle chatter and being a busybody. Love, humility, solitude and calmness are all essential themes.
Parts of this book were written specifically for those in orders. Sometimes, they are still useful, however.
I received this free ebook from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9780870612312
PRICE $17.95 (USD)
Shannon W, Reviewer
For a book originally written over 500 years ago, this modern translation is a gift. I would be lying if I said it didn’t feel like a monk from the 1400s was yelling at me about being complacent, being worldly-minded, and how my afflictions are nothing, because that’s exactly what was happening here. Nonetheless, there’s a lot of joy and contemplation to be found between the pages of this book, and some of that joy can come from conviction brought on by this book. It felt like I was reading a devotional as if it were a chapter book but it actually is a chapter book of short tidbits of spiritual advice on a wide range of topics. I needed it and I enjoyed it.
Ethan L, Reviewer
A justly famous devotional work of the 15th century in an accessible translation.
Creasy's translation allows the modern reader to really get into and understand the premises of <i>The Imitation of Christ</i>. It is highly recommended.
The work itself is a masterpiece of devotional literature: even though Thomas a Kempis may have lived almost six hundred years ago, many of his comments makes it seem that he understands you today. It truly speaks to the unchanging condition of mankind.
The author's goal is to increase devotion to Christ and writes compellingly to that end. He uncovers a lot of the difficulties and challenges under which we live and directs us in every respect to Christ. It is a work worth going over time and again.
The author lived in medieval Catholicism and the work reflects this at times, but the language and concepts are easily accommodated.
Highly recommended.
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