The Imitation of Christ

The Imitation of Christ 

by Thomas à Kempis

Index 

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