The Imitation of Christ

Marc Notes:
Originally published: Milwaukee: Bruce Pub., 1940.

Table of Contents:
Book 1. Helpful Thoughts in the Life of the Soul -- Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth -- Having a Humble Opinion of Self -- The Doctrine of Truth -- Prudence in Action -- Reading the Holy Scripture -- Unbridled Affections -- Avoiding False Hope and Pride -- Shunning Over-Familiarity -- Obedience and Subjection -- Avoiding Idle Talk -- Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Perfection -- The Value of Adversity -- Resisting Temptation -- Avoiding Rash Judgment -- Works Done in Charity -- Bearing with the Faults of Others -- Monastic Life -- The Example Set Us by the Holy Fathers -- The Practices of a Good Religious Person -- The Love of Solitude and Silence -- Sorrow of Heart -- Thoughts on the Misery of Man -- Thoughts on Death -- Judgment and the Punishment of Sin -- Zeal in Amending our Lives -- Book 2. The Interior Life -- Meditation -- Humility -- Goodness and Peace in Man -- Purity of Mind and Unity of Purpose -- Ourselves -- The Joy of a Good Conscience -- Loving Jesus Above All Things -- The Intimate Friendship of Jesus -- Wanting No Share in Comfort -- Appreciating God's Grace -- Few Love the Cross of Jesus -- The Royal Road of the Holy Cross -- Book 3. Internal Consolation -- The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul -- Truth Speaks Inwardly without the Sound of Words -- Listen Humbly to the Words of God. Many Do not Heed them -- We must walk before God in Humility and Truth -- The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love -- The Proving of a True Lover -- Grace must be Hidden under the Mantle of Humility -- Self-Abasement in the Sight of God -- All Things should be referred to God as their Last End -- To Despise the World and Serve God is Sweet -- The Longings of our Hearts must be Examined and Moderated -- Acquiring Patience in the Eight against Concupiscence -- The obedience of One Humbly Subject to the Example of Jesus christ -- Consider the Hidden Judgments of God Lest you become proud of your own Good deeds -- How One should Feel and Speak on every Desirable Thing -- True Comfort is to be sought in God Alone -- All our Cate is to be placed in God -- Temporal Sufferings should be Borne Patiently, after the example of Christ -- True Patience in Suffering -- Confessing Our Weakness in the Miseries of Life -- Above all Goods and all Gifts we must Rest in God -- Remember the Innumerable Gifts of God -- Four Things which bring Great Peace -- Avoiding Curious Inquiry about the Lives of Others -- The Basis of Firm Peace of Heart and True Progress -- The Excellence of a Free Mind, Gained Through Prayer Wather Than By Study -- Self-Love is the Greatest Hindrance to the Highest Good -- Strength Against Slander -- How We Must Call Upon and Bless the Lord When Trouble Presses -- The Quest of Divine Help and Confidence in Regaining Grace -- To Find the Creator, Forsake All Creatures -- Self-Denial and the Renunciation of Evil Appetites -- Restlessness of Soul-Directing Our Final Intention Toward God -- God is Sweet Above All Things and in All Things to Those Who Love Him -- There is No Security from Temptation in This Life -- The Vain Judgments of Men -- Pure and Entire Resignation of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart -- The Right Ordering of External Affairs; Recourse to God in dangers -- A Man Should Not Be Unduly Solicitous About His Affairs -- Man Has No Good in Himself and Can Glory in Nothing -- Contempt for All Earthly Honor -- Peace is Not to Be Placed in Men -- Beware Vain and Worldly Knowledge -- Do Not Be Concerned About Outward Things -- All Men Are Not to Be Believed, for It Is Easy to Err in Speech -- Trust in God Against Slander -- Every Trial Must be Borne for the Sake of External Life -- The Day of Eternity and the Distresses of This Life -- The Desire of Eternal Life; the Great Rewards Promised to Those Who Struggle -- How a Desolate Person Ought to Commit Himself into the Hands of God -- When We cannot Attain to the Highest, We Must Practice the Humble Works -- A Man Ought Not to Consider Himself Worthly of Consolation, but Rather Deserving of Chastisement -- God's Grace Is Not Given to the Earthly Minded -- The Different Motions of Nature and Grace -- The Corruption of Nature and the Efficacy of Divine Grace -- we Ought of Deny Ourselves and Imitate Christ Through Bearing the Cross -- A Man Should Not Be Too Downcast When He Falls Into Defects -- High Matters and the Hidden Judgments of God Are Not to Be Scrutinized -- All Hope and Trust Are to Be Fixed In God Alone -- Book 4. An Invitation to Holy Commuion -- The Great Reverence With Which We Should Receive Christ -- God's Great Goodness and Love is Shown to Man in This Sacrament -- It Is Profitable to Receive Communion Often -- Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily -- The Dignity of the Scrament and of the Priesthood -- An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion -- The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend -- The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering -- We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All -- Do Not Lightly Forego Holy Communion -- The Body of Christ and Sacred Scripture Are Most Necessary to a Faithful Soul -- The Communicant Should Prepare Himself for Christ with Great Care -- With All Her Heart the Devout Soul Should Desire Union with Christ in the Sacrament -- The Ardent Longing of Devout Men for the Body of Christ -- The Grace of Devotion is Acquired Through Humility and Self-Denial -- We Should Show Our Needs to Christ and Ask His Grace -- The Burning Love and Strong Desire to Receive Christ -- Man Should Not Scrutinize This Sacrament in Curiosity, but Humbly Imitate Christ and Submit Reaso to Holy Faith.

Publisher Marketing:
This classic of Christian devotional literature has brought understanding and comfort to millions for centuries. Both Protestants and Catholics -- as well as mystics and historians of religious thought -- have studied these meditations on the life and teachings of Jesus, finding in them a path to prayer and spiritual guidance. Written in a candid and conversational style, The Imitation of Christ discusses liberation from worldly inclinations, recollection as a preparation for prayer, the consolations of prayer, and the place of eucharistic communion in a devout life. With its simple, readable text, this translation will appeal to new readers as well as to those already familiar with this religious classic.