Imitation of Christ
Imitation of Christ
A devotional book sometimes called the “Following of Christ,” published anonymously in 1418 . Its authorship, once in dispute, is now attributed to Thomas a Kempis, a Canon of Windesheim, Netherlands, whose autographed manuscript of the work appeared in 1441 . It is a series of counsels of perfection written in Latin in a familiar style, and divided into four books:
Useful admonitions for a spiritual life
Admonitions concerning spiritual things
Of interior consolation
Of the Blessed Sacrament, usually omitted in Protestant editions
It aims to instruct the soul in Christian perfection with Christ as the Divine Model and, next to the Bible, is perhaps the most widely read spiritual book in the world.
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Imitation of Christ
A work of spiritual devotion, also sometimes called the “Following of Christ”. Its purpose is to instruct the soul in Christian perfection with Christ as the Divine Model. It consists of a series of counsels of perfection written in Latin in a familiar and even colloquial style, and is divided into four parts or books: Useful admonitions for a spiritual life, Admonitions concerning spiritual things; Of interior consolation; Of the Blessed Sacrament.
With the exception of the Bible, it is perhaps the most widely read spiritual book in the world. It was first published anonymously in A.D. 1418. Its authorship has been disputed, being attributed to various spiritual writers: St. Bernard, St. Bonaventure, Innocent III, Henry of Kalkar, John à Kempis, Walter Hilton, Jean Charlier de Gerson, and Giovanni Gersen. The claim of Thomas à Kempis has been completely vindicated in recent years. For details as regards the authorship and the nature of the work itself see THOMAS À KEMPIS.
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Transcribed by Tomas Hancil
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIICopyright © 1910 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, June 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Imitation of Christ
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