Imitation of Christ, The (Thomas à Kempis)

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis is a Christian devotional book first composed in Latin about 1427.  It is a handbook for spiritual life arising from the Devotio Moderna movement, where Kempis was a member.

From the Foreword:
“Theories most popular at the moment ascribe the Imitation to two or three men, members of the Brethren of the Common Life, an association of priests organized in the Netherlands in the latter half of the fourteenth century. That Thomas Hemerken of Kempen, or Thomas à Kempis as he is now known, later translated a composite of their writings, essentially a spiritual diary, from the original Netherlandish into Latin is generally admitted by scholars.”

The Imitation of Christ is perhaps the most widely read devotional work next to the Bible, and is regarded as a devotional and religious classic  Apart from the Bible, no book has been translated into more languages.

The text is divided into four books, which provide detailed spiritual instructions:

• Book 1: Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul
• Book 2: The Interior Life
• Book 3: Internal Consolation
• Book 4: An Invitation to Holy Communion

You may also be interested in other Classic Writings or Devotionals available from Accordance.

The Imitation of Christ
Translated from the Latin into Modern English
• Author: Thomas à Kempis
• Translators: Aloysius Croft, Harold Bolton
• Text of 1940 version published by The Bruce Publishing Company