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Reading list

A Way through The Imitation of Christ

Seven passages through the four books of the Imitation, from contempt of the world to the inner life, inward consolation and the sacrament.

Beginning. 8 steps

Orientation

  1. Author

    Thomas à Kempis

    The canon of Mount St. Agnes, the Devotio Moderna, and the long debate over who wrote the book.

Book I: The spiritual life

  1. Text

    The Imitation of Christ

    Thomas à Kempis, tr. William Benham. Book I, chapter 1

    He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, saith the Lord. These are the words of Christ; and they teach us how far we must imitate His life and character, if we seek true illumination, and deliverance from all …

    The Imitation of Christ, Paragraph 1.1.1. Read it in the Library

    The opening: “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness”, and the life of Christ as the study of the soul.

  2. Text

    The Imitation of Christ

    Thomas à Kempis, tr. William Benham. Book I, chapter 20

    Seek a suitable time for thy meditation, and think frequently of the mercies of God to thee. Leave curious questions. Study such matters as bring thee sorrow for sin rather than amusement. If thou withdraw thyself from trifling conversation and …

    The Imitation of Christ, Paragraph 1.20.1. Read it in the Library

    On solitude and silence: why the saints chose to live in secret with God, and what retirement gives.

Book II: The inner life

  1. Text

    The Imitation of Christ

    Thomas à Kempis, tr. William Benham. Book II, chapter 1

    The kingdom of God is within you, saith the Lord. Turn thee with all thine heart to the Lord and forsake this miserable world, and thou shalt find rest unto thy soul. Learn to despise outward things and to give …

    The Imitation of Christ, Paragraph 2.1.1. Read it in the Library

    The kingdom of God within, and the soul preparing a dwelling for Christ by turning from outward things.

Book III: Inward consolation

  1. Text

    The Imitation of Christ

    Thomas à Kempis, tr. William Benham. Book III, chapters 1–2

    Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth. I am Thy servant; O give me understanding that I may know Thy testimonies. Incline my heart unto the words of Thy mouth. Let thy speech distil as the dew. The children of Israel …

    The Imitation of Christ, Paragraph 3.2.1. Read it in the Library

    The third book becomes a dialogue. Here the disciple asks God to speak within, without the noise of words.

  2. Text

    The Imitation of Christ

    Thomas à Kempis, tr. William Benham. Book III, chapter 5

    Love is a great thing, a good above all others, which alone maketh every heavy burden light, and equaliseth every inequality. For it beareth the burden and maketh it no burden, it maketh every bitter thing to be sweet and …

    The Imitation of Christ, Paragraph 3.5.3. Read it in the Library

    The chapter on the power of divine love, among the book’s best-known pages: love that makes every burden light.

Book IV: The sacrament

  1. Text

    The Imitation of Christ

    Thomas à Kempis, tr. William Benham. Book IV, chapter 1

    These are Thy words, O Christ, Eternal Truth; though not uttered at one time nor written together in one place of Scripture. Because therefore they are Thy words and true, I must gratefully and faithfully receive them all. They are …

    The Imitation of Christ, Paragraph 4.1.1. Read it in the Library

    The last book turns to the Holy Communion, in the voice of the disciple who fears to draw near and is invited.

Context

  1. Tradition

    Christian Mysticism

    Where the Imitation stands among the Christian contemplatives, between the Rhineland mystics and the Carmelites.

Cite this entry
Chicago (bibliography)

“A Way through The Imitation of Christ.” Reading list. The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society. Last modified November 7, 2026. https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/a-way-through-the-imitation-of-christ.

Chicago (note)

“A Way through The Imitation of Christ,” reading list, The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, last modified November 7, 2026, https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/a-way-through-the-imitation-of-christ.

MLA

“A Way through The Imitation of Christ.” The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society, 7 Nov. 2026, www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/a-way-through-the-imitation-of-christ.

BibTeX
@misc{reading-lists-a-way-through-the-imitation-of-christ,
  title = {{A Way through The Imitation of Christ}},
  howpublished = {The Library, Unitive Knowledge Society},
  note = {Reading list. Last modified November 7, 2026},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.unitiveknowledge.org/reading-lists/a-way-through-the-imitation-of-christ}
}

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