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Posted on 09/03/2007 8:58:21 AM PDT by Salvation
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| HE WHO follows Me, walks not in darkness," says the Lord. [John 8:12] By these words of Jesus Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ. The teaching of Jesus Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints, and he who has His spirit will find in it a hidden manna. Now, there are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the spirit of Jesus Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Jesus Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Jesus Christ. What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know how to define it. For what would it profit us to know the whole Bible by heart and the principles of all the philosophers if we live without grace and the love of God? Vanity of vanities and all is vanity, except to love God and serve Him alone. This is the greatest wisdom -- to seek the kingdom of heaven through contempt of the world. It is vanity, therefore, to seek and trust in riches that perish. It is vanity also to court honor and to be puffed up with pride. It is vanity to follow the lusts of the body and to desire things for which severe punishment later must come. It is vanity to wish for long life and to care little about a well-spent life. It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come. It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides. Often recall the proverb: "The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing." [Eccles. 1:8] Try, moreover, to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God. |
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Absolutely no flaming! These daily threads are intended to be devotional in nature. If a particular day's offering says nothing to you, please just go on and wait for the next day. Consider these threads a DMZ of sorts, a place where a perpetual truce is in effect and a place where all other arguments and disagreements from other times and places are left behind.
I can attest from personal experience (Salvation's) that reading from Imitation of Christ daily will almost certainly change - not one's faith - but one's perspective of his/her own faith, and open up new vistas in your spiritual life. If - when - this happens to a reader of these threads, and they choose to share what has happened within them - we are treading on hallowed ground. Be respectful.
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Imitation of Christ Devotional Ping!
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Hmmm. I can’t quite figure out why the picture isn’t showing up in the above ping. Will work on it.
A couple of notes for everyone.
The numbers indicate Book 1, Chapter 1, thus 2,14 would indicate Book 2, Chapter 14.
I have received several requests by others to be included on a ping list. Rather than putting you on the one “Catholic” list that I keep, I will keep additional names and add them to my usual list.
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I love The Imitation of Christ. It is easy reading and can be picked up at any time, requiring reading only a page or two at a time with wonderful wisdom and insight into our human failings.
I understand that this book is now available in a Protestant version. I’m uncertain how it would differ from the Catholic version - perhaps a few chapters omitted? Never-the-less, it is powerful in it’s advise for Christians on how to increase in holiness.
**I understand that this book is now available in a Protestant version. I’m uncertain how it would differ from the Catholic version - perhaps a few chapters omitted? Never-the-less, it is powerful in it’s advise for Christians on how to increase in holiness.**
Yes, it is available in many versions and languages. I was amazed when I checked it out on the web.
A few chapters omitted — LOL! No, I doubt that.
I think the biggest difference comes in the third and fourth books. The Catholic version has divided them, and other versions have only three books.
One can get as fancy or as simple as one desires in purchasing this. From leather bound and hard back to paperback that I saw linked to a discount store!! LOL!
This is lovely. I have had at least one copy of “Imitation” since the Seventies. I carry one in my purse. The BEST.
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You are so lucky you still have it.
It really is wonderful just to pull out — like at a railroad stop and read a page, isn’t it?
Or stuck in traffic?
Or________________??
Everyone can fill in their own blank.
thanks for pinging your list.
**It is vanity to love what passes quickly and not to look ahead where eternal joy abides.**
The wise words for me today!
Thank you for posting this excellent meditation. I travel with it always.
Absolutely beautiful! Looking forward to the entire series.
Thanks for stopping by. Yes, the entire series of reflections in beautiful.
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Imitating Jesus Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth - Imitation of Christ