The Imitation of Christ

About this book

"The Imitation of Christ" — an immortal classic of devotional literature

Text from Christian Classics Ethereal Library; in the public domain.

Contents

1. Foreword
2. Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth
3. Having a Humble Opinion of Self
4. The Doctrine of Truth
5. Prudence in Action
6. Reading the Holy Scripture
7. Unbridled Affections
8. Avoiding False Hope and Pride
9. Shunning Over-Familiarity
10. Obedience and Subjection
11. Avoiding Idle Talk
12. Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Perfection
13. The Value of Adversity
14. Resisting Temptation
15. Avoiding Rash Judgment
16. Works Done in Charity
17. Bearing with the Faults of Others
18. Monastic Life
19. The Example Set Us by the Holy Fathers
20. The Practices of a Good Religious
21. The Love of Solitude and Silence
22. Sorrow of Heart
23. Thoughts on the Misery of Man
24. Thoughts on Death
25. Judgment and the Punishment of Sin
26. Zeal in Amending our Lives
27. Meditation
28. Humility
29. Goodness and Peace in Man
30. Purity of Mind and Unity of Purpose
31. Ourselves
32. The Joy of a Good Conscience
33. Loving Jesus Above All Things
34. The Intimate Friendship of Jesus
35. Wanting No Share in Comfort
36. Appreciating God's Grace
37. Few Love the Cross of Jesus
38. The Royal Road of the Holy Cross
39. The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul
40. Truth Speaks Inwardly Without the Sound of Words
41. Listen Humbly to the Words of God. Many Do Not Heed Them
42. We Must Walk Before God in Humility and Truth
43. The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love
44. The Proving of a True Lover
45. Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility
46. Self-Abasement in the Sight of God
47. All Things should be Referred to God as their Last End
48. To Despise the World and Serve God is Sweet
49. The Longings of our Hearts Must be Examined and Moderated
50. Acquiring Patience in the Fight Against Concupiscence
51. The Obedience of One Humbly Subject to the Example of Jesus Christ
52. Consider the Hidden Judgments of God Lest You Become Proud of Your Own Good Deeds
53. How One Should Feel and Speak on Every Desirable Thing
54. True Comfort Is to Be Sought in God Alone
55. All Our Care is to Be Placed in God
56. Temporal Sufferings Should Be Borne Patiently, After the Example of Christ
57. True Patience in Suffering
58. Confessing Our Weakness in the Miseries of Life
59. Above All Goods and All Gifts We Must Rest in God
60. Remember the Innumerable Gifts of God
61. Four Things Which Bring Great Peace
62. Avoiding Curious Inquiry About the Lives of Others
63. The Basis of Firm Peace of Heart and True Progress
64. The Excellence of a Free Mind, Gained Through Prayer Rather Than By Study
65. Self-Love is the Greatest Hindrance to the Highest Good
66. Strength Against Slander
67. How We Must Call Upon and Bless the Lord When Trouble Presses
68. The Quest of Divine Help and Confidence in Regaining Grace
69. To Find the Creator, Forsake All Creatures
70. Self-Denial and the Renunciation of Evil Appetites
71. Restlessness of Soul—Directing Our Final Intention Toward God
72. God is Sweet Above All Things and in All Things to Those Who Love Him
73. There is No Security from Temptation in This Life
74. The Vain Judgments of Men
75. Pure and Entire Resignation of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart
76. The Right Ordering of External Affairs; Recourse to God in Dangers
77. A Man Should Not Be Unduly Solicitous About His Affairs
78. Man Has No Good in Himself and Can Glory in Nothing
79. Contempt for All Earthly Honor
80. Peace is Not to Be Placed in Men
81. Beware Vain and Worldly Knowledge
82. Do Not Be Concerned About Outward Things
83. All Men Are Not to Be Believed, for It Is Easy to Err in Speech
84. Trust in God Against Slander
85. Every Trial Must Be Borne for the Sake of Eternal Life
86. The Day of Eternity and the Distresses of This Life
87. The Desire of Eternal Life; the Great Rewards Promised to Those Who Struggle
88. How a Desolate Person Ought to Commit Himself Into the Hands of God
89. When We Cannot Attain to the Highest, We Must Practice the Humble Works
90. A Man Ought Not to Consider Himself Worthy of Consolation, But Rather Deserving of Chastisement
91. God's Grace Is Not Given to the Earthly Minded
92. The Different Motions of Nature and Grace
93. The Corruption of Nature and the Efficacy of Divine Grace
94. We Ought to Deny Ourselves and Imitate Christ Through Bearing the Cross
95. A Man Should Not Be Too Downcast When He Falls Into Defects
96. High Matters and the Hidden Judgments of God Are Not to Be Scrutinized
97. All Hope and Trust Are to Be Fixed In God Alone
98. An Invitation to Holy Communion
99. The Great Reverence With Which We Should Receive Christ
100. God's Great Goodness and Love is Shown to Man in This Sacrament
101. It Is Profitable to Receive Communion Often
102. Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily
103. The Dignity of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood
104. An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion
105. The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend
106. The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering
107. We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All
108. Do Not Lightly Forego Holy Communion
109. The Body of Christ and Sacred Scripture Are Most Necessary to a Faithful Soul
110. The communicant Should Prepare Himself for Christ with Great Care
111. With All Her Heart the Devout Soul Should Desire Union with Christ in the Sacrament
112. The Ardent Longing of Devout Men for the Body of Christ
113. The Grace of Devotion is Acquired Through Humility and Self-Denial
114. We Should Show Our Needs to Christ and Ask His Grace
115. The Burning Love and Strong Desire to Receive Christ
116. Man Should Not Scrutinize This Sacrament in Curiosity, But Humbly Imitate Christ and Submit Reason to Holy Faith