'The Imitation of Christ' by Thomas Kempis

[LooC]

http://www.mardel.com/search/default.aspx?keywords=the+imitation+of+christ, and http://www.lifeway.com/e2/shop/?D=imitation+of+christ&Dk=1&Dn=0&Dtx=mode%20matchallpartial&N=0&Ntk=All&Ntt=imitation+of+christ&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&Nao=9 both offer the book.

Has anyone read it? Is it being promoted in your church?

From: http://justthebook.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/the-real-presence-in-the-eucharist-part-4-thomas-a-kempis-the-imitation-of-christ/:

A couple sources claim that The Imitation of Christ is second to the Bible in being widely read. The Imitation of Christ is praised by Protestants and Roman Catholics; the Jesuits give it an official place among their "exercises;" and it is in full conformity with the Catholic faith both of the time it was written and with the Catholic faith today.

The teaching in The Imitation of Christ is 180-out (the complete opposite) of what is taught in God's Word. TIOC with its major wresting of scripture, is a very contemplative book, focused on suffering, doing good works to appease God and be holy, guilt trips from the Voice of Christ who was unkind and demanding to the Disciple, and references a number of Roman Catholic doctrines such as purgatory, as well as other unbiblical thinking.

But mostly, TIOC promotes the actual eating of Jesus' body in the Eucharist (in a very sensual manner, alluding to a physical marriage relationship to God) as the way to be holy and become Jesus (have oneness/union/divinity with god).

[Julie E]

http://www.prophecyfellowship.org/showthread.php?t=258034

here is all of Thomas...you can cut and paste...he is a catholic...soo toward the end he deals with mary...but i would say 95% is a very very good Christ Centered read.

[LooC]

Cool. Thanks Julie. I'm reading through it now.

From post #47:

The Voice of Christ

MY CHILD, I must be your supreme and last end, if you truly desire to be blessed. With this intention your affections, which are too often perversely inclined to self and to creatures, will be purified. For if you seek yourself in anything, you immediately fail interiorly and become dry of heart.
Refer all things principally to Me, therefore, for it is I Who have given them all. Consider each thing as flowing from the highest good, and therefore to Me, as to their highest source, must all things be brought back.
From Me the small and the great, the poor and the rich draw the water of life as from a living fountain, and they who serve Me willingly and freely shall receive grace upon grace. He who wishes to glory in things apart from Me, however, or to delight in some good as his own, shall not be grounded in true joy or gladdened in his heart, but shall be burdened and distressed in many ways. Hence you ought not to attribute any good to yourself or ascribe virtue to any man, but give all to God without Whom man has nothing.
I have given all things. I will that all be returned to Me again, and I exact most strictly a return of thanks. This is the truth by which vainglory is put to flight.
Where heavenly grace and true charity enter in, there neither envy nor narrowness of heart nor self-love will have place. Divine love conquers all and enlarges the powers of the soul.
If you are truly wise, you will rejoice only in Me, because no one is good except God alone, Who is to be praised above all things and above all to be blessed.

I don't get this. Is he saying that Christ spoke this to him? Or is he just paraphrasing?? :headstratch

Is he saying that Christ has spoken to him audibly? Like Todd Bentley? Many other of the posts in the thread start off with "The Voice of Christ". I don't get it. Is Kempis saying that Christ literally spoke to him? Going with a "word of knowledge" thing? Or a novel of sorts?

I've always been very suspicious of people like that. Maybe its just me...

Several sources, including Wiki, refer to him as a mystic. Kinda freaky that he was buried alive....

From that long post:

The Voice of Christ

HAD you the purity of an angel and the sanctity of St. John the Baptist, you would not be worthy to receive or administer this Sacrament. It is not because of any human meriting that a man consecrates and administers the Sacrament of Christ, and receives the Bread of Angels for his food. Great is the Mystery and great the dignity of priests to whom is given that which has not been granted the angels. For priests alone, rightly ordained in the Church, have power to celebrate Mass and consecrate the Body of Christ.

Yet on certain days and times appointed he ought to receive with affectionate reverence the Body of his Redeemer in this Sacrament, seeking the praise and honor of God rather than his own consolation.
For as often as he devoutly calls to mind the mystery and passion of the Incarnate Christ, and is inflamed with love for Him, he communicates mystically and is invisibly refreshed.

Therefore, You have given me in my weakness Your sacred Flesh to refresh my soul and body, and You have set Your word as the guiding light for my feet. Without them I could not live aright, for the word of God is the light of my soul and Your Sacrament is the Bread of Life.
These also may be called the two tables, one here, one there, in the treasure house of holy Church. One is the table of the holy altar, having the holy Bread that is the precious Body of Christ.


Transubstantiation? Do you believe that? Or is this a taboo subject?

It just made me think of, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."

Sorry I can't be one of his admirers...

But thanks for sending me to your thread that was posted in 2006! I learned alot!

[Julie E]

like this is a really old guy...like hes dead....and in the old times...they talked like that...i think...like i said...it is a catholic thing....im not catholic i dont believe that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ....but i dont think either that believing that, messes with what Christ did on the cross.....hum....to much to think about right now....it is 7 and i haven't eaten anything...my brain just stopped....lol...