OF THE ROYAL WAY OF THE HOLY CROSS “If you willingly bear the Cross, it will bear you, and will bring you to the end which you seek, even where there shall be the end of suffering; though it shall not be here. If you bear it unwillingly, you make a burden for yourself and [...]
Category: The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis, tr. by William Benham, 1886
the imitation of Christ, the 2nd book: chapter xii (the royal way of the holy cross)
OF THE ROYAL WAY OF THE HOLY CROSS “That seems a hard saying to many, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his Cross and follow Me”, (Matthew 16:24). But it will be much harder to hear that last sentence, “Depart from me, you wicked, into eternal fire”, [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 2nd book: chapter xi (the fewness of those who love the Cross of Jesus)
OF THE FEWNESS OF THOSE WHO LOVE THE CROSS OF JESUS “Jesus has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His Cross. He has many seekers of comfort, but few of tribulation. He finds many companions of His table, but few of His fasting. All desire to rejoice with Him; few are [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 2nd book: chapter x (gratitude for the Grace of God)
OF GRATITUDE FOR THE GRACE OF GOD “Why seek you rest when you are born to labour? Prepare yourself for patience more than for comforts, and for bearing the cross more than for joy. For who among the men of this world would not gladly receive consolation and spiritual joy if he might always have [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 2nd book: chapter ix (the lack of all comfort)
OF THE LACK OF ALL COMFORT “Wherefore one said, when the favour of God was present with him, I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved, but he goes on to say what he felt within himself when the favour departed: You did turn Your face from me, and I was troubled. In [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 2nd book: chapter ix (the lack of all comfort)
OF THE LACK OF ALL COMFORT “It is no hard thing to despise human comfort when divine is present. It is a great thing, yea, very great to be able to bear the loss both of human and divine comfort; and for the love of God willingly to bear exile of heart, and in nought [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 2nd book: chapter viii (the intimate love of Jesus)
OF THE INTIMATE LOVE OF JESUS “When Jesus is present, all is well, and nothing seems hard. But when Jesus is not present, everything is hard. When Jesus speaks not within, our comfort is nothing worth; but if Jesus speaks but a single word, great is the comfort we experience. Did not Mary Magdalene rise [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 2nd book: chapter vii (loving Jesus above all things)
OF LOVING JESUS ABOVE ALL THINGS “Blessed is he who understands what it is to love Jesus, and to despise himself for Jesus' sake. He must give up all that he loves for his Beloved, for Jesus will be loved alone above all things. The love of created things is deceiving and unstable, but the [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 2nd book: chapter vi (the joy of a good conscience)
OF THE JOY OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE “The testimony of a good conscience is the glory of a good man. Have a good conscience and you shall ever have joy. A good conscience is able to bear exceedingly much, and is exceedingly joyful in the midst of adversities. An evil conscience is ever fearful and [...]
the imitation of Christ, the 2nd book: chapter v (self-esteem)
OF SELF-ESTEEM “We cannot place too little confidence in ourselves because grace and understanding are often lacking to us. Little light is there within us, and what we have we quickly lose by negligence. Oftentimes we perceive not how great is our inward blindness; we often do ill and excuse it worse. Sometimes we are [...]
The Mark Of God: Understanding Your "I AM Presence" 