Monthly Archives: November 2013

The Ninth Chapter: We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All

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The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
BOOK FOUR: AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION
The Ninth Chapter: We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All

The Disciple

ALL things in heaven and on earth, O Lord, are Yours. I long to give myself to You as a voluntary offering to remain forever Yours. With a sincere heart I offer myself this day to You, O Lord, to Your eternal service, to Your homage, and as a sacrifice of everlasting praise. Receive me with this holy offering of Your precious Body which also I make to You this day, in the presence of angels invisibly attending, for my salvation and that of all Your people.

O Lord, upon Your altar of expiation, I offer You all the sins and offenses I have committed in Your presence and in the presence of Your holy angels, from the day when I first could sin until this hour, that You may burn and consume them all in the fire of Your love, that You may wipe away their every stain, cleanse my conscience of every fault, and restore to me Your grace which I lost in sin by granting full pardon for all and receiving me mercifully with the kiss of peace. Continue reading →

Week 48 : Imitate Christ, Weekly Study Guide

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Week 48 Discussion Notes:1

  1. In Chapter 8, Kempis wrote that if we wish to be Christ’s disciple, we must offer ourselves to Him with all our heart. Devotion to Christ isn’t so hard at church, or where other Christians congregate. It is quite another thing to show one’s devotion to Christ in places where God is disrespected or hated. (Day 331 & 332)
  2. What does the Bible say about hypocrisy? Do you imagine that God appreciates hypocrisy any more than you do? (Day 332)
  3. In Chapter 9, Kempis wrote, in the voice of the Disciple, “What can I do for all my sins but humbly confess and lament them, and implore Your mercy without ceasing?” Indeed, what else can we do but confess and lament them? We know the strong terms in which God condemns sin (Day 334 and 335)
  4. How much would you sacrifice for another person? Does the gender, age, or relationship to you make a difference? (If so, why?) How much would you sacrifice for God? (Day 336)

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 4 , Chapter 8 : The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering (November 27, 2013)
  2. Book 4 , Chapter 9 : We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All (November 30, 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 IX.

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Challoner’s Reflection on The Imitation of Christ1
BOOK FOUR: AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION
CHAPTER IX.: We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All

Wearied with the slavery of our passions, and fatigued with the inefficacy of our desires, we promise God what we never perform, and pretend to be his, without ceasing to be our own, or weaning ourselves from the world and vanity; let us now, after having received Him, make a firm resolution of giving ourselves really to Him, and of dedicating and consecrating ourselves to his love. It is time, O my Saviour, that this heart, which was made for thy love, and redeemed by thy blood, should for ever cease to be devoted to itself, and become wholly and irrevocably thine; and I protest at thy sacred feet, that such is my ardent desire. This heart has received Thee, my Jesus! and Thou desirest to consummate within it that new life which Thou hast assumed on the altar to make it a victim of thy love. Sacrifice then to thy Father thy holy life, and my life of sin; and never suffer me to recall that heart which on this day I wholly give to Thee.

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

The Eighth Chapter: The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering

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The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
BOOK FOUR: AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION
The Eighth Chapter: The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering

The Voice of Christ

AS I offered Myself willingly to God the Father for your sins with hands outstretched and body naked on the cross, so that nothing remained in Me that had not become a complete sacrifice to appease the divine wrath, so ought you to be willing to offer yourself to Me day by day in the Mass as a pure and holy oblation, together with all your faculties and affections, with as much inward devotion as you can.

What more do I ask than that you give yourself entirely to Me? I care not for anything else you may give Me, for I seek not your gift but you. Just as it would not be enough for you to have everything if you did not have Me, so whatever you give cannot please Me if you do not give yourself. Continue reading →

COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER VIII.

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Challoner’s Reflection on The Imitation of Christ1
BOOK FOUR: AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION
CHAPTER VIII.: The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering

Act not after the manner of those many weak Christians, who. when they communicate, give themselves entirely to God, but immediately after return to themselves; whose lives are a constant succession of good desires and sinful actions, and who are therefore never firmly established either in the fear or love of God. It is of such souls, who are thus mean and ungenerous towards a God who is so prodigal of himself towards them, that the prophet speaks, when he says: On account of the iniquity of his covetousness, I was angry, and 1 struck him; I hid my face from thee, and was angry; and he went away wandering in his own heart. –Isaiah 67:17Open Link in New Window.

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

The Seventh Chapter: The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend

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The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
BOOK FOUR: AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION
The Seventh Chapter: The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend

The Voice of Christ

ABOVE all, God’s priest should approach the celebration and reception of this Sacrament with the deepest humility of heart and suppliant reverence, with complete faith and the pious intention of giving honor to God.

Carefully examine your conscience, then. Cleanse and purify it to the best of your power by true contrition and humble confession, that you may have no burden, know of no remorse, and thus be free to come near. Let the memory of all your sins grieve you, and especially lament and bewail your daily transgressions. Then if time permits, confess to God in the secret depths of your heart all the miseries your passions have caused. Continue reading →

Week 47 : Imitate Christ, Weekly Study Guide

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Week 47 Discussion Notes:1

  1. In some Christian traditions, a part of the service of Holy Communion is referred to as “The Great Thanksgiving.” Is there any relationship between this “Great Thanksgiving” and the autumn holiday in the USA, referred to as “Thanksgiving?” (Day 323)
  2. In Chapter 6, Kempis expressed his anxiety in preparing for the Eucharist. What is the appropriate preparation for Holy Communion? (Day 324)
  3. Kempis wrote in Chapter 7 that we should approach Communion with “suppliant reverence.” Does this mean we shouldn’t be joking around as we accept Communion? (Day 327)
  4. Kempis urges us in INSTRUCTIONS FOR RELIGIOUS to approach God with a contrite heart. What does this mean, and is it REALLY important? (Day 328)

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 4 , Chapter 6 : An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion (November 20, 2013)
  2. Book 4 , Chapter 7 : The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend (November 23, 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 VII.

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Challoner’s Reflection on The Imitation of Christ1
BOOK FOUR: AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION
CHAPTER VII.: The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend

There is nothing more useful in itself, nor more indispensable in order to approach worthily the altar, than to descend into your conscience, and to examine, with a salutary severity, its sad depths. We have in ourselves, as it were, an image of the kingdom of darkness; in us lives, increases, and propagates itself the numerous family of vices, sprung from the threefold concupiscence which has infected human life from its otigin. Whoever seriously examines his heart, finds in it the germ of all that is bad; a pride, sometimes bold and violent, sometimes full of duplicity and artifices; an unrestrained curiosity; burning desires; hatred which injuries, outrages, and calumny accompany; envy, the mother of murder; avarice which says without ceasing, Bring, bring (Proverbs 30:15Open Link in New Window); hardness of heart; the guilty joys of the mind: and although these seeds of death do not develope themselves in every man to the same degree, all have them in themselves, and grace alone smothers “-.em more or less. Such is, since his original fall, the lot of the children of Adam. Who, in his terror, would not cry out to the Lord from the depths of his immense misery? He that hideth his sins shall not prosper; but he that shall confess and for* sake them, shall obtain mercy (Proverbs 28:13Open Link in New Window). Touched with compassion for sinners, Jesus Christ instituted the sacrament of penance, which regenerates them in the blood of the Lamb, and clothes them again with their primitive innocence. This is the nuptial robe necessary in order to assist at the feast of the bridegroom; ye who bear with grief the weight of your sins, hasten then, go, full of repentance, of faith, of hope, and of love, to lay down that oppressive burden at the feet of him who takes the place, in the sacred tribunal, of the Son of God Himself; go and humiliate yourselves; go and weep: a divine hand will dry your tears, and, re-established in grace with God and in peace with yourselves, you will at last feel gladness and joy in your souls.

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

The Sixth Chapter: An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion

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The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
BOOK FOUR: AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION
The Sixth Chapter: An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion

The Disciple

WHEN I consider Your dignity, O Lord, and my own meanness, I become very much frightened and confused. For if I do not receive, I fly from Life, and if I intrude unworthily, I incur Your displeasure. What, then, shall I do, my God, my Helper and Adviser in necessity? Teach me the right way. Place before me some short exercise suitable for Holy Communion, for it is good to know in what manner I ought to make my heart ready devoutly and fervently for You, to receive Your Sacrament for the good of my soul, or even to celebrate so great and divine a sacrifice.

COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER VI.

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Challoner’s Reflection on The Imitation of Christ1
BOOK FOUR: AN INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION
CHAPTER VI.: An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion

Ont of the best dispositions for worthily receiving the holy communion, is to be resolved that Jesus shall reign for ever in our hearts; that is, that we will obey Him in all things, and refuse Him nothing that He demands of us; for it is in quality of king that He comes to us, and as the king of all bounty He comes into our souls, to be again born there, and to reign over our passions and affections.

Continue reading →

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