The Imitation of Christ Audio

The Imitation of Christ is widely considered to be the second most read book in the world, following the Bible; This is certainly so in the annals of Christianity. Its influence on subsequent religious literature, to the present, cannot be overstated.

Father Thomas à Kempis was a monk of The Canons Regular of Mount St. Agnes at Windesheim in Germany (about 20 miles southwest of Mainz) who was ordained a priest in 1413. He was born at Kempen in the Diocese of Cologne, in 1380 and is described as “a man of middle height, dark complexion and vivid colouring, with a broad forehead and piercing eyes; kind and affable towards all, especially the sorrowful and the afflicted; constantly engaged in his favourite occupations of reading, writing, or prayer; in time of recreation for the most part silent and recollected, finding it difficult even to express an opinion on matters of mundane interest, but pouring out a ready torrent of eloquence when the conversation turned on God or the concerns of the soul. At such times often he would excuse himself, “My brethren”, he would say, “I must go: Someone is waiting to converse with me in my cell.”

Sister’s Commentary:

Dear Little Hearts,

We are all called, regardless of our state in life, whether we be married, consecrated, or single, to be "other Christ's”, "other Marys” in this world. It is not what we do or do not achieve on a temporal level, but the quality of our love, service and being that is, so often, seen by God alone. Nevertheless, on this tempestuous sea of life we need the example of witnesses to whom we can look and upon whom we can pattern our own choices. Some witnesses may have a great appeal others less, but God can make all speak to us if we do but pray and endeavour to be open.

Scripture and the teachings of Holy Mother the Church should be our prime spiritual food, but also very praiseworthy are those writings and treatises passed down to us from generation to generation for our edification. It is a part of what we call Sacred Tradition in the Church.

My own approach, as a Consecrated Nun, to this is to see it through the eyes and heart of Mary.....would she not, does she not, draw us constantly to her Son, Jesus Christ Whom we encounter so intimately in the Gospels, we become whom we focus upon. It is not enough to assent to what Christ has said, it is also a call to put His words into choices and actions. The words of the extract above are profoundly true. In Christ's teaching we find hidden manna, food for our souls, our lives and our journey from wandering in the Desert of this world to the very Throne of the Most High God Himself!

At the outset let us pray that we may be consumed in love with the spirit of Christ, the spirit of Mary ... and here, now, in this place, at this time, begin ... for as St. Francis reminded us, “It is time for us to begin anew because in reality we have not yet begun.”


Your Little Sisters in Christ