Monthly Archives: April 2013

The Second Chapter: Truth Speaks Inwardly Without the Sound of Words

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The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
BOOK THREE: INTERNAL CONSOLATION
The Second Chapter: Truth Speaks Inwardly Without the Sound of Words

The Disciple

SPEAK, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.” [26] “I am Thy servant. Give me understanding that I may know Thine ordinances [27] . . . Incline my heart to Thine ordinances [28] . . . Let Thy speech distil as the dew.” [29]

The children of Israel once said to Moses: “Speak thou to us and we will hear thee: let not the Lord speak to us, lest we die.” [30] Continue reading →

Week 17 : Imitate Christ, Weekly Study Guide

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Week 17 Discussion Notes:1

  1. In section 359 of THE LITTLE KEMPIS, the author wrote, “Your conversations should be brief and devout. It is better to be silent, than to talk without caution.” Do you agree? (Day 113)
  2. Kempis recommends in chapter 1 that we listen to God, and ignore the gossip and idle chatter of this world: “Blessed are the ears that catch the accents of divine whispering, and pay no heed to the murmurings of this world.” Is this good advice? How do we put it into practice? (Day 114)
  3. Kempis urges in section 197 of THE LITTLE KEMPIS, “It is difficult to take time, and exercise moderation, with every word you use and every duty you perform.” Is this advice a recipe for never getting ahead in today’s world? (Day 115)
  4. In chapter 2, Kempis says God alone can perfectly instruct us. Without God, not even the the great prophets could instruct us. (Day 117)

These study notes are for a year long study of The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis. The text for this Bible Study is Imitate Christ, by T. Alan Truex. Call Tom Truex, or use the CONTACT tab at K-Line.ORG to get more information.

The discussion for this week will focus on the Chapters listed below, from The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis.2

All items listed below are online at ImitateChrist.ORG:

  1. Book 3 , Chapter 1 : The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul (April 24, 2013)
  2. Book 3 , Chapter 2 : Truth Speaks Inwardly Without the Sound of Words (April 27, 2013)

Also Posted this Week at ImitateChrist.ORG:

  1. Challoner’s Reflections3 on The Imitation of Christ for each of the above chapters.

Footnotes:

  1. References to days are from the Imitate Christ Study Guide ↩
  2. The dates listed are the dates the chapters were posted online, which also corresponds to the suggested reading plan in the study guide. ↩
  3. Right Rev. R. Challoner, D.D., V.A., Imitation of Christ, Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873 ↩

COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER II.

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Challoner’s Reflection on The Imitation of Christ1
BOOK THREE: INTERNAL CONSULTATION
CHAPTER II.: Truth Speaks Inwardly Without the Sound of Words

There is a voice which speaks to us interiorly and as if in the depths of our souls, when closing our ears to the noise of creatures, we wish to listen to God alone, and call Him to us with all the ardour of our desires. It was this voice which far from men, ravished the Pauls, the Antonys, the Pacomes, in the desert, and revealed to them in their obscurity the secrets of Divine Wisdom: It is this voice which instructs the saints, inflames them- consoles them, and inebriates them, so to speak, with its celestial sweetness. Moses and the prophets were covered with a veil for the disciples of Emmaus: Jesus comes, and the shadows which obscure their intelligence are dissipated ) something unknown is stirred up within them, so that they said one to the other: Was not our heart burning within us, whilst He spoke in the way, and opened to us the Scriptures? (Luke, xxiv., 32′. And we, poor unfortunates whom the tumult of the world still distracts, what shall we do? Do we not wish also to listen to Jesus? Let us hasten to summon to us the divine guide, and let us say with our whole soul: Lord, stay with us, because it is towards evening, and the day is now far spent (Luke, 24:29).

PRUYER.

O my God, I beseech Thee to supply my deficiencies, by speaking to me, by enlightening my mind, by touching my heart, by granting me the grace to hear thy divine word; to relish, to love, and to put it in practice, that so it may not draw down on me a more severe condemnation, but may become to me a word of eternal life. Amen.

  1. Right Rev. R. Challoner, D.D., V.A., Imitation of Christ, Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873 ↩

The First Chapter: The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul

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The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
BOOK THREE: INTERNAL CONSOLATION
The First Chapter: The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul

I WILL hear what the Lord God will speak in me.” [25]

Blessed is the soul who hears the Lord speaking within her, who receives the word of consolation from His lips. Blessed are the ears that catch the accents of divine whispering, and pay no heed to the murmurings of this world. Blessed indeed are the ears that listen, not to the voice which sounds without, but to the truth which teaches within. Blessed are the eyes which are closed to exterior things and are fixed upon those which are interior. Blessed are they who penetrate inwardly, who try daily to prepare themselves more and more to understand mysteries. Blessed are they who long to give their time to God, and who cut themselves off from the hindrances of the world.

Consider these things, my soul, and close the door of your senses, so that you can hear what the Lord your God speaks within you. “I am your salvation,” says your Beloved. “I am your peace and your life. Remain with Me and you will find peace. Dismiss all passing things and seek the eternal. What are all temporal things but snares? And what help will all creatures be able to give you if you are deserted by the Creator?” Leave all these things, therefore, and make yourself pleasing and faithful to your Creator so that you may attain to true happiness. Continue reading →

COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER I.

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Challoner’s Reflection on The Imitation of Christ1
BOOK THREE: INTERNAL CONSULTATION
CHAPTER I.: The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul

Let us listen to the Divine Wisdom: My delight U to he with the children of men (Proverbs, 8:31). Rut the greater part of mankind, not understanding this language, or fearing to understand it, withdraw from Him to take delight in the company of creatures. He was in the world and the world knew him not (John, i. 10). This is why the Apostle cautions us against loving the world or the things which are in the world. If we wish, then, to draw to ourselves the spirit of God, to which the unction teacheth all things (i John, 2:27), let us separate ourselves from the world; let us renounce its maxims, its pleasures, its tumultous societies. Jesus is only found in the desert; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets (Matthew, x2:19); but when He has resolved to pour out His favours on the faithful soul, He leads her unto the wilderness, and there He speaks to her heart (Osee, 2:14). How can the delights of this celestial conversation be described? Those who have tasted the pleasure of it once can no longer bear the conversations of men:

ASPIRATION.

O Jesus! speak to my heart; henceforth I wish to hear thy voice alone, amid the silence of all creatures.

  1. Right Rev. R. Challoner, D.D., V.A., Imitation of Christ, Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873 ↩

The Twelfth Chapter: The Royal Road of the Holy Cross

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The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
BOOK TWO: THE INTERIOR LIFE
The Twelfth Chapter: The Royal Road of the Holy Cross

TO MANY the saying, “Deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow Me,” [20] seems hard, but it will be much harder to hear that final word: “Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.” [21] Those who hear the word of the cross and follow it willingly now, need not fear that they will hear of eternal damnation on the day of judgment. This sign of the cross will be in the heavens when the Lord comes to judge. Then all the servants of the cross, who during life made themselves one with the Crucified, will draw near with great trust to Christ, the judge.

Why, then, do you fear to take up the cross when through it you can win a kingdom? In the cross is salvation, in the cross is life, in the cross is protection from enemies, in the cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness, in the cross is strength of mind, in the cross is joy of spirit, in the cross is highest virtue, in the cross is perfect holiness. There is no salvation of soul nor hope of everlasting life but in the cross.

Take up your cross, therefore, and follow Jesus, and you shall enter eternal life. He Himself opened the way before you in carrying His cross, and upon it He died for you, that you, too, might take up your cross and long to die upon it. If you die with Him, you shall also live with Him, and if you share His suffering, you shall also share His glory. Continue reading →

Week 16 : Imitate Christ, Weekly Study Guide

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Week 16 Discussion Notes:1

  1. It is unpopular to willingly bear any burden–especially not a burden as heavy, and
    inconvenient as a cross. As Kempis writes in chapter 11, “All desire to be happy with
    Him; few wish to suffer anything for Him.” (Day 107)
  2. In chapter 12, Kempis reminds us there is no more noble path than in following
    Christ, even if that path leads to death of one’s mortal body. (Day 109)
  3. Kempis wrote in Chapter 12 that no person is fit to enjoy heaven unless one is resigned to suffer hardship
    for Christ. “Nothing is more acceptable to God, nothing more helpful for you on this earth than to suffer willingly for Christ.” Why is Kempis putting so much emphasis on suffering? (Day 110)
  4. Who was “a man of Cyrene, Simon by name?” (Day 111)

These study notes are for a year long study of The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis. The text for this Bible Study is Imitate Christ, by T. Alan Truex. Call Tom Truex, or use the CONTACT tab at K-Line.ORG to get more information.

The discussion for this week will focus on the Chapters listed below, from The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis.2

All items listed below are online at ImitateChrist.ORG:

  1. Book 2 , Chapter 11 : Few Love the Cross of Jesus (April 17, 2013)
  2. Book 2 , Chapter 12 : The Royal Road of the Holy Cross (April 20, 2013)

Also Posted this Week at ImitateChrist.ORG:

  1. Challoner’s Reflections3 on The Imitation of Christ for each of the above chapters.

Footnotes:

  1. References to days are from the Imitate Christ Study Guide ↩
  2. The dates listed are the dates the chapters were posted online, which also corresponds to the suggested reading plan in the study guide. ↩
  3. Right Rev. R. Challoner, D.D., V.A., Imitation of Christ, Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873 ↩

COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER XII.

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Challoner’s Reflection on The Imitation of Christ1
BOOK TWO: THE INTERIOR LIFE
CHAPTER XII.: The Royal Road of the Holy Cross

The doctrine of the cross, unto the Jews indeed a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:23Open Link in New Window), is what men understand the least. Their reason will humble itself to the mystery of a God dying to save them; but the idea that they should associate themselves to this mystery by dying to themselves, to their passions, to their wills, to their desires,–that is what they revolt against, and which makes them say like the Capharnaites: This saying is hard, and who can hear it? (John 6:61Open Link in New Window). Nevertheless, it is necessary that we should hear it, for our salvation depends on it. Heaven was separated from the earth; the cross has re-united them; and it is from the foot of the cross that everything departs which goes to heaven. Let us, therefore, cling to the cross; that it may be our consolation as well as our strength here below.

Continue reading →

  1. Right Rev. R. Challoner, D.D., V.A., Imitation of Christ, Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873 ↩

The Eleventh Chapter: Few Love the Cross of Jesus

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The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
BOOK TWO: THE INTERIOR LIFE
The Eleventh Chapter: Few Love the Cross of Jesus

JESUS has always many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who bear His cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table, but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish to suffer anything for Him. Many follow Him to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the chalice of His passion. Many revere His miracles; few approach the shame of the Cross. Many love Him as long as they encounter no hardship; many praise and bless Him as long as they receive some comfort from Him. But if Jesus hides Himself and leaves them for a while, they fall either into complaints or into deep dejection. Those, on the contrary, who love Him for His own sake and not for any comfort of their own, bless Him in all trial and anguish of heart as well as in the bliss of consolation. Even if He should never give them consolation, yet they would continue to praise Him and wish always to give Him thanks. What power there is in pure love for Jesus–love that is free from all self-interest and self-love!

Do not those who always seek consolation deserve to be called mercenaries? Do not those who always think of their own profit and gain prove that they love themselves rather than Christ? Where can a man be found who desires to serve God for nothing? Rarely indeed is a man so spiritual as to strip himself of all things. And who shall find a man so truly poor in spirit as to be free from every creature? His value is like that of things brought from the most distant lands.

If a man give all his wealth, it is nothing; if he do great penance, it is little; if he gain all knowledge, he is still far afield; if he have great virtue and much ardent devotion, he still lacks a great deal, and especially, the one thing that is most necessary to him. What is this one thing? That leaving all, he forsake himself, completely renounce himself, and give up all private affections. Then, when he has done all that he knows ought to be done, let him consider it as nothing, let him make little of what may be considered great; let him in all honesty call himself an unprofitable servant. For truth itself has said: “When you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: we are unprofitable servants.'” [18] Continue reading →

COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER XI.

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Challoner’s Reflection on The Imitation of Christ1
BOOK TWO: THE INTERIOR LIFE
CHAPTER XI.: Few Love the Cross of Jesus

We must love God for God Himself, and not on account of the joys we feel in serving Him; for if He withdrew his consolations from us, what would become of this mercenary love? He who still seeks himself in anything does not know how to love. Look to your model, contemplate Jesus; He sought Himself in nothing. For Christ did not please Himself (Romans xv. 3). He sacrificed everything for you, his repose, his life, even his will: Not as I will, He said, but as Thou wilt (Matthew 26:39Open Link in New Window). He suffered everything; even to the cross, even to the desertion of His Father: My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46Open Link in New Window,) Let us enter, after his example, into this spirit of sacrifice; and, detached henceforth from every interest of our own, let us accept, with equal serenity, the goods and the ills, the pains and the joys, so that having no thoughts nor desires but those of Jesus, we may be united with Him in that perfect unity, which, when about to leave j,this world, He asked from his Father for us, as the last and greatest of his gifts.

ASPIRATION.

Grant, O most sweet Jesus that I may follow thy cross, and that being detached from all things, I may attach myself only to Thee for all eternity. Amen.

  1. Right Rev. R. Challoner, D.D., V.A., Imitation of Christ, Dublin: McGlashan and Gill, 1873 ↩