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The Imitation of Christ: Book & Audiobook
The most important work of the devotio moderna movement, Thomas à Kempis’s classic, The Imitation of Christ , is saturated with Scripture and classical philosophy and reveals a deep understanding of human nature. Matthew Arnold called it “the most exquisite document, after those of the New Testament, of all that the Christian spirit has ever inspired.”
Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471) was a monk at Mt. St. Agnes in the Netherlands. Thomas worked principally at copying and writing. A number of his treatises on the monastic life and little devotional essays have been translated into English, including the great devotional work The Imitation of Christ (c. 1427).
The softcover edition comes with an MP3 CD read by Emmy Award–Winning narrator Stephen Johnston, who has sold over 100 million copies of his narrations and productions worldwide. His crystal-clear, mellow baritone voice provides distinct pronunciation and easily makes the pages come alive, in a contemporary easy-to-understand style.
Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471) was a monk at Mt. St. Agnes in the Netherlands. Thomas worked principally at copying and writing. A number of his treatises on the monastic life and little devotional essays have been translated into English, including the great devotional work The Imitation of Christ (c. 1427).
The softcover edition comes with an MP3 CD read by Emmy Award–Winning narrator Stephen Johnston, who has sold over 100 million copies of his narrations and productions worldwide. His crystal-clear, mellow baritone voice provides distinct pronunciation and easily makes the pages come alive, in a contemporary easy-to-understand style.
184 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2011
47 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Thomas à Kempis
727 books393 followersThomas Hammerken (or Hammerlein -- both mean "little hammer") / Thomas de Kempis / Thomas Hamerken von Kempen was born at Kempen (hence the "A Kempis") in the duchy of Cleves in Germany around 1380. He was educated by a religious order called the Brethren of the Common Life, and in due course joined the order, was ordained a priest, became sub-prior of his house (in the low Countries), and died 25 July 1471 (his feast is observed a day early to avoid conflict with that of James bar-Zebedee the Apostle).
Thomas is known almost entirely for composing or compiling a manual of spiritual advice known as The Imitation of Christ, in which he urges the reader to seek to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be conformed in all things to His will.
Thomas is known almost entirely for composing or compiling a manual of spiritual advice known as The Imitation of Christ, in which he urges the reader to seek to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be conformed in all things to His will.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 15, 2025
More about trying to leave this world behind than to live in it well
December 31, 2023
I listened to this book on Hallow; Jim Caviezel read it…SO good. What inspiration, to strive to be with one with Christ.
December 7, 2025
Easily one of my favorite books I've ever read. If the last section on communion has held you back, do yourself a favor and finish it. Beautiful.
September 25, 2024
Old-fashioned self-help Christian book: be like Christ, take your cross, always go for humbleness and poverty, empty yourself so that God can fill you, whatever you pursue will eventually take over you, suffering is pregnant with meanings, suffering is the main way to transform and become like Christ, human reason and cleverness are just artificial dead-ends, and so on. Pascal, Dostoevsky, and Cioran most likely loved this book.
Reading this book now and here in Orange County, California is quite an interesting experience. Here are some of the richest people in this world and everything is about glamour, enjoying life, man-made artifacts, youth, smiles, and so on. Moreover, this is a place where Christianity is transforming itself in the most radical way these days: mega-churches, services that look like Las Vegas concerts, extremely wealthy and youthful looking pastors and members, pastors that are a mix of politicians and entertainers, universal happiness and smiles, use of the most advanced technology in entertainment and publication/media, creation of new versions of prosperity theology/Gospel, and finally a lot of money and power to push these new theologies all over the world. Trump himself shows up from time to time here to raise money for his presidential campaign. Of course, no one wants to hear about the cross and following Christ in suffering; and as such, no pastor talks about such strange things. If anything, new arguments are found that prove that salvation in this world and next go hand in hand with riches and immediate enjoyments. In other words - if you have enough money you can create mega-churches and hire super-pastors to hear exactly what you want to hear and force it on the rest of the world.
In the end - maybe God, Christ, and Christianity are adjusting to the new realities of capitalism and to that of rich and happy people like the ones here; that is maybe Christian truth is going through some dialectical and material transformation. Or maybe guys like Kempis did not know what they were talking about; and thus they were wrong and deserve to be forgotten. But I believe not; that is when Christ and spirituality are concerned - there is far more to Kempis and Dostoevsky when compared to all these powerful mega-churches, their prosperity Gospel, clever pastors, and hordes of followers.
Reading this book now and here in Orange County, California is quite an interesting experience. Here are some of the richest people in this world and everything is about glamour, enjoying life, man-made artifacts, youth, smiles, and so on. Moreover, this is a place where Christianity is transforming itself in the most radical way these days: mega-churches, services that look like Las Vegas concerts, extremely wealthy and youthful looking pastors and members, pastors that are a mix of politicians and entertainers, universal happiness and smiles, use of the most advanced technology in entertainment and publication/media, creation of new versions of prosperity theology/Gospel, and finally a lot of money and power to push these new theologies all over the world. Trump himself shows up from time to time here to raise money for his presidential campaign. Of course, no one wants to hear about the cross and following Christ in suffering; and as such, no pastor talks about such strange things. If anything, new arguments are found that prove that salvation in this world and next go hand in hand with riches and immediate enjoyments. In other words - if you have enough money you can create mega-churches and hire super-pastors to hear exactly what you want to hear and force it on the rest of the world.
In the end - maybe God, Christ, and Christianity are adjusting to the new realities of capitalism and to that of rich and happy people like the ones here; that is maybe Christian truth is going through some dialectical and material transformation. Or maybe guys like Kempis did not know what they were talking about; and thus they were wrong and deserve to be forgotten. But I believe not; that is when Christ and spirituality are concerned - there is far more to Kempis and Dostoevsky when compared to all these powerful mega-churches, their prosperity Gospel, clever pastors, and hordes of followers.
April 1, 2023
Allows readers to feel the call specifically from Jesus. The book allows readers to hear from Christ, know what he wants for us and from us. In response we hear from disciples as they answer his call and praise his holiness. The book brings us a knowledge of what Christ offers us if we give our whole self to Him and his Father in love.
December 31, 2023
Very powerful! Wonderful to pray with! I read along with Jim Caviezel on Hallow app as part of my prayer time. Included reflections and prayers from the Daughters of St Paul.
One tip, meditate on how the writings fit with your vocation from God. Some parts may seem solely directed towards the ordained, but still can be applied to laity.
One tip, meditate on how the writings fit with your vocation from God. Some parts may seem solely directed towards the ordained, but still can be applied to laity.
March 29, 2025
Umm… this seems to contradict what Jesus taught according to the Bible. This is teaching us to do what Jesus complained about us already doing in the Bible. Still some decent takeaways but I’m not a fan.
March 14, 2023
Excellent for reflections on your beliefs. Reading during Lent and got so much from it.
December 4, 2025
The ultimate Spiritual Retreat. I will read it again.
December 11, 2025
It was very good and I read along online with Fr Mike Schmidt. I think this is a book I will read once a year.
July 21, 2024
AN EXCELLENT EDITION OF ONE OF THE MOST REVERED CHRISTIAN "CLASSICS"
Thomas à Kempis (which means, "Thomas of Kempen"---i.e., his German home town; he lived 1380-1471) was a monk who spent most of his life in a Dutch monastery, becoming its sub-prior in 1429.
He wrote, "It is an excellent thing to live under obedience to a superior, and not to be one's own master. It is much safer to obey than to rule." (Pg. 36) Concerning adversity, he advises, "It is good for us to encounter troubles and adversities from time to time, for trouble often compels a man to search his own heart. It reminds him that he is in exile here, and that he can put his trust in nothing in this world." (Pg. 39)
He depicts Christ as saying, "resolve to do the will of others rather than your own. Always choose to possess less rather than more. Always take the lowest place, and regard yourself as less than others. Desire and pray always that God's will may be perfectly fulfilled in you." (Pg. 124) In another place, Christ says, "know that even your best efforts cannot make a worthy preparation for Me, although you were to prepare for a whole year and do nothing else beside." (Pg. 207)
He suggests, "With what confidence will a man meet death, to whom no worldly affection clings! But a weak soul cannot bear to be thus detached from all things, nor can a worldly-minded man understand the freedom of the spiritual man." (Pg. 167) He observes, "Many make pilgrimages to various places to visit the relics of the Saints, wondering at the story of their lives and the splendor of their shrines... When visiting such places, men are often moved by curiosity and the urge for sight-seeing, and one seldom hears that any amendment of life results..." (Pg. 186)
Thomas' book has been justly prized for hundreds of years, and its earnest spirituality still resonates today.
Thomas à Kempis (which means, "Thomas of Kempen"---i.e., his German home town; he lived 1380-1471) was a monk who spent most of his life in a Dutch monastery, becoming its sub-prior in 1429.
He wrote, "It is an excellent thing to live under obedience to a superior, and not to be one's own master. It is much safer to obey than to rule." (Pg. 36) Concerning adversity, he advises, "It is good for us to encounter troubles and adversities from time to time, for trouble often compels a man to search his own heart. It reminds him that he is in exile here, and that he can put his trust in nothing in this world." (Pg. 39)
He depicts Christ as saying, "resolve to do the will of others rather than your own. Always choose to possess less rather than more. Always take the lowest place, and regard yourself as less than others. Desire and pray always that God's will may be perfectly fulfilled in you." (Pg. 124) In another place, Christ says, "know that even your best efforts cannot make a worthy preparation for Me, although you were to prepare for a whole year and do nothing else beside." (Pg. 207)
He suggests, "With what confidence will a man meet death, to whom no worldly affection clings! But a weak soul cannot bear to be thus detached from all things, nor can a worldly-minded man understand the freedom of the spiritual man." (Pg. 167) He observes, "Many make pilgrimages to various places to visit the relics of the Saints, wondering at the story of their lives and the splendor of their shrines... When visiting such places, men are often moved by curiosity and the urge for sight-seeing, and one seldom hears that any amendment of life results..." (Pg. 186)
Thomas' book has been justly prized for hundreds of years, and its earnest spirituality still resonates today.
May 28, 2025
the kinda book that cuts through the heart and leaves you feeling well.. very convicted. Lol
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews