{ "meta": { "schema_version": "1.2", "endpoint": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/index.json" }, "work": { "slug": "imit-book-1", "name": "Book I — Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life", "stream": "greco-christian", "epoch_reflected": "greco-latin", "epoch_written": "greco-latin", "form": "Christian devotional treatise", "tradition": "Christian mysticism", "author": "Thomas à Kempis", "year_approx": 1418, "note": null, "books_slug": "kempis--the-imitation-of-christ", "books_slugs": null, "has_project_translation": false, "steiner_loci": [] }, "parents": [ { "slug": "imitation-of-christ", "name": "The Imitation of Christ", "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/" } ], "translation": { "title": null, "author": null, "source": null }, "chapters": [ { "num": 1, "slug": "02-chapter-i-of-the-imitation-of-christ-and-of-contempt-of-the", "title": "Chapter I. Of the Imitation of Christ, and of Contempt of the World and All Its Vanities", "words": 496, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/02-chapter-i-of-the-imitation-of-christ-and-of-contempt-of-the/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/02-chapter-i-of-the-imitation-of-christ-and-of-contempt-of-the.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "I. Of the Imitation of Christ; contempt of the world", "blurb": "The opening chapter that gives the whole work its title. *He that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, saith the Lord* — the imitation of Christ as the way to be free from the heart's blindness. Knowledge weighed less than charity; vanity of all but loving and serving God." }, { "num": 2, "slug": "03-chapter-ii-of-thinking-humbly-of-oneself", "title": "Chapter II. Of Thinking Humbly of Oneself", "words": 400, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/03-chapter-ii-of-thinking-humbly-of-oneself/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/03-chapter-ii-of-thinking-humbly-of-oneself.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "II. Of thinking humbly of oneself", "blurb": "The disposition prior to all else: a humble estimation of oneself. *Tantum vales, quantum vales tibi* — you are worth precisely as much as you are worth in your own honest reckoning, taking glory only in what is genuinely yours from God." }, { "num": 3, "slug": "04-chapter-iii-of-the-knowledge-of-truth", "title": "Chapter III. Of the Knowledge of Truth", "words": 779, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/04-chapter-iii-of-the-knowledge-of-truth/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/04-chapter-iii-of-the-knowledge-of-truth.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "III. Of the knowledge of truth", "blurb": "On the knowledge of truth above all human learning. *Beatus est ille quem Veritas per seipsam docet* — blessed is he whom Truth itself teaches, not by passing figures and voices but in itself. The interior magisterium of Truth contrasted with the outer schools." }, { "num": 4, "slug": "05-chapter-iv-of-prudence-in-action", "title": "Chapter IV. Of Prudence in Action", "words": 205, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/05-chapter-iv-of-prudence-in-action/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/05-chapter-iv-of-prudence-in-action.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "IV. Of prudence in action", "blurb": "On the slow weighing of action. *Non omni verbo credendum* — not every word is to be believed; not every counsel followed. The prudential pause before action; consult, weigh, then act — and submit even one's prudence to the better judgment of others when appropriate." }, { "num": 5, "slug": "06-chapter-v-of-the-reading-of-holy-scriptures", "title": "Chapter V. Of the Reading of Holy Scriptures", "words": 229, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/06-chapter-v-of-the-reading-of-holy-scriptures/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/06-chapter-v-of-the-reading-of-holy-scriptures.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "V. Of the reading of holy Scriptures", "blurb": "On the spirit in which Scripture is to be read. *Veritas in Scripturis sacris quaerenda est, non eloquentia* — Truth, not eloquence, is to be sought in the Holy Scriptures. Read in the spirit in which they were written; pass over the difficult, fed by what one understands." }, { "num": 6, "slug": "07-chapter-vi-of-inordinate-affections", "title": "Chapter VI. Of Inordinate Affections", "words": 220, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/07-chapter-vi-of-inordinate-affections/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/07-chapter-vi-of-inordinate-affections.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "VI. Of inordinate affections", "blurb": "On the disordered appetites of the heart. *Quotiescunque inordinate aliquid concupiscis, statim in te ipso inquietus efficeris* — whenever you desire anything inordinately, you become at once restless within yourself. The diagnostic chapter of inward inquietude." }, { "num": 7, "slug": "08-chapter-vii-of-fleeing-from-vain-hope-and-pride", "title": "Chapter VII. Of Fleeing From Vain Hope And Pride", "words": 308, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/08-chapter-vii-of-fleeing-from-vain-hope-and-pride/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/08-chapter-vii-of-fleeing-from-vain-hope-and-pride.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "VII. Of fleeing vain hope and pride", "blurb": "On the two great snares — vain hope (in fleeting goods of this life) and pride (in one's own gifts). *Vanus est, qui spem suam ponit in hominibus aut in creaturis* — vain is he who places his hope in men or in creatures. Place hope only in God." }, { "num": 8, "slug": "09-chapter-viii-of-the-danger-of-too-much-familiarity", "title": "Chapter VIII. Of The Danger Of Too Much Familiarity", "words": 179, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/09-chapter-viii-of-the-danger-of-too-much-familiarity/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/09-chapter-viii-of-the-danger-of-too-much-familiarity.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "VIII. The danger of too much familiarity", "blurb": "*Non omni revela cor tuum* — open not thy heart to every one. The discipline of holy reserve; the danger that familiarity breeds disregard for God's secret movements in the soul; the right measure of openness." }, { "num": 9, "slug": "10-chapter-ix-of-obedience-and-subjection", "title": "Chapter IX. Of Obedience And Subjection", "words": 277, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/10-chapter-ix-of-obedience-and-subjection/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/10-chapter-ix-of-obedience-and-subjection.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "IX. Of obedience and subjection", "blurb": "On the virtue of obedience. *Magna res est in obedientia vivere* — it is a great thing to live under obedience. Even when the command seems contrary to one's own judgment, the giving over of one's will is the surer path than pursuing one's own counsel." }, { "num": 10, "slug": "11-chapter-x-of-the-danger-of-superfluity-of-words", "title": "Chapter X. Of The Danger Of Superfluity Of Words", "words": 249, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/11-chapter-x-of-the-danger-of-superfluity-of-words/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/11-chapter-x-of-the-danger-of-superfluity-of-words.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "X. The danger of superfluity of words", "blurb": "On the discipline of speech. *Avoid the tumult of men as much as thou canst, for the conferences of secular affairs greatly hinder, although they are spoken of with sincere intention.* The cost of much talking; the gain of silent recollection." }, { "num": 11, "slug": "12-chapter-xi-of-seeking-peace-of-mind-and-of-spiritual", "title": "Chapter XI. Of Seeking Peace Of Mind And Of Spiritual Progress", "words": 556, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/12-chapter-xi-of-seeking-peace-of-mind-and-of-spiritual/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/12-chapter-xi-of-seeking-peace-of-mind-and-of-spiritual.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XI. Seeking peace of mind and spiritual progress", "blurb": "On the cost of inward peace. We would have peace, but at no cost; we would be holy without painful self-mortification. *Patientia est medicina humana*. The remedy is patience; the price is the steady acceptance of what is hard." }, { "num": 12, "slug": "13-chapter-xii-of-the-uses-of-adversity", "title": "Chapter XII. Of The Uses Of Adversity", "words": 223, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/13-chapter-xii-of-the-uses-of-adversity/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/13-chapter-xii-of-the-uses-of-adversity.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XII. The uses of adversity", "blurb": "On why occasional adversity is good for the soul. It humbles, it teaches, it brings us back to ourselves and to God. *Bonum est nobis quod aliquando habeamus aliquas gravitates et contrarietates* — it is good for us sometimes to have some heaviness and contradictions." }, { "num": 13, "slug": "14-chapter-xiii-of-resisting-temptation", "title": "Chapter XIII. Of Resisting Temptation", "words": 791, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/14-chapter-xiii-of-resisting-temptation/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/14-chapter-xiii-of-resisting-temptation.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XIII. Of resisting temptation", "blurb": "On the perpetual battle. No life is free from temptation; the saints knew them as deeply as we do. The temptations not to be feared in themselves but used — each resistance making the soul stronger, each yielding making it weaker." }, { "num": 14, "slug": "15-chapter-xiv-on-avoiding-rash-judgment", "title": "Chapter XIV. On Avoiding Rash Judgment", "words": 260, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/15-chapter-xiv-on-avoiding-rash-judgment/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/15-chapter-xiv-on-avoiding-rash-judgment.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XIV. On avoiding rash judgment", "blurb": "On the tendency to judge others. *Convertere super teipsum, et cave ne aliorum acta judices* — turn upon thyself and beware of judging the deeds of others. The energy spent judging others would be better spent examining ourselves." }, { "num": 15, "slug": "16-chapter-xv-of-works-of-charity", "title": "Chapter XV. Of Works Of Charity", "words": 251, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/16-chapter-xv-of-works-of-charity/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/16-chapter-xv-of-works-of-charity.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XV. Of works of charity", "blurb": "On the inward principle of works of charity. *For nothing is to be done for an evil end, nor for the love of any creature.* The work itself may be the same, but its worth depends on the love that animates it. Without charity even good works are nothing." }, { "num": 16, "slug": "17-chapter-xvi-of-bearing-with-the-faults-of-others", "title": "Chapter XVI. Of Bearing With The Faults Of Others", "words": 374, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/17-chapter-xvi-of-bearing-with-the-faults-of-others/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/17-chapter-xvi-of-bearing-with-the-faults-of-others.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XVI. Bearing with the faults of others", "blurb": "On the daily discipline of patience with others' faults — because they bear with ours. *Magna est inter homines diversitas, dum unus alium portat* — great is the diversity among men, while one bears with another. The mutual long-suffering that makes common life possible." }, { "num": 17, "slug": "18-chapter-xvii-of-a-religious-life", "title": "Chapter XVII. Of A Religious Life", "words": 229, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/18-chapter-xvii-of-a-religious-life/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/18-chapter-xvii-of-a-religious-life.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XVII. Of a religious life", "blurb": "On entering the monastic-religious life. *Si vis pacem habere et veram*, find peace nowhere but in the monastery rightly entered. The chapter addresses the *religiosi* in the technical canon-law sense, but the discipline applies to every Christian's interior cloister." }, { "num": 18, "slug": "19-chapter-xviii-of-the-example-of-the-holy-fathers", "title": "Chapter XVIII. Of The Example Of The Holy Fathers", "words": 588, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/19-chapter-xviii-of-the-example-of-the-holy-fathers/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/19-chapter-xviii-of-the-example-of-the-holy-fathers.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XVIII. The example of the holy Fathers", "blurb": "On the great desert and monastic Fathers — Antony, Pachomius, and the others. The contrast between the rigour they bore for love of God and the soft accommodation of contemporary religious life. The Fathers held up not as inimitable but as the standard from which present softness has fallen." }, { "num": 19, "slug": "20-chapter-xix-of-the-exercises-of-a-religious-man", "title": "Chapter XIX. Of The Exercises Of A Religious Man", "words": 812, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/20-chapter-xix-of-the-exercises-of-a-religious-man/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/20-chapter-xix-of-the-exercises-of-a-religious-man.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XIX. Of the exercises of a religious man", "blurb": "On the daily exercises — vigil, prayer, reading, work, silence, communion. *Crebro renova propositum tuum* — frequently renew thy resolution. The whole religious life held together by the renewal of intention each morning and each particular act." }, { "num": 20, "slug": "21-chapter-xx-of-the-love-of-solitude-and-silence", "title": "Chapter XX. Of The Love Of Solitude And Silence", "words": 919, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/21-chapter-xx-of-the-love-of-solitude-and-silence/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/21-chapter-xx-of-the-love-of-solitude-and-silence.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XX. The love of solitude and silence", "blurb": "*In silentio et in quiete proficit anima devota.* In silence and quiet the devout soul makes progress. The chapter that has nourished every contemplative tradition since: the necessity of carving out the small inward room where God can speak." }, { "num": 21, "slug": "22-chapter-xxi-of-compunction-of-heart", "title": "Chapter XXI. Of Compunction Of Heart", "words": 572, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/22-chapter-xxi-of-compunction-of-heart/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/22-chapter-xxi-of-compunction-of-heart.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XXI. Of compunction of heart", "blurb": "On the *compunctio cordis* — the inward sorrow for sin that is itself a gift of grace. Not the morbid scrupulosity, but the salutary inward weeping over how one has failed to love God enough. The disposition that prepares the soul for grace." }, { "num": 22, "slug": "23-chapter-xxii-on-the-contemplation-of-human-misery", "title": "Chapter XXII. On The Contemplation Of Human Misery", "words": 827, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/23-chapter-xxii-on-the-contemplation-of-human-misery/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/23-chapter-xxii-on-the-contemplation-of-human-misery.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XXII. On the contemplation of human misery", "blurb": "On the steady contemplation of the misery of the human condition since the Fall. Not for despair but for the right ordering of priorities: when the soul sees how short and uncertain life is, it spends itself less on what cannot last and more on what can." }, { "num": 23, "slug": "24-chapter-xxiii-of-meditation-upon-death", "title": "Chapter XXIII. Of Meditation Upon Death", "words": 970, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/24-chapter-xxiii-of-meditation-upon-death/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/24-chapter-xxiii-of-meditation-upon-death.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XXIII. Of meditation upon death", "blurb": "The *memento mori* chapter. *Cito enim eris hic, nec tunc ubi modo es* — quickly you will be there, and no longer where you now are. The salutary inward exercise of contemplating one's own death so that it does not come unprepared. The discipline of all medieval *artes moriendi*." }, { "num": 24, "slug": "25-chapter-xxiv-of-the-judgment-and-punishment-of-the-wicked", "title": "Chapter XXIV. Of The Judgment And Punishment Of The Wicked", "words": 964, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/25-chapter-xxiv-of-the-judgment-and-punishment-of-the-wicked/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/25-chapter-xxiv-of-the-judgment-and-punishment-of-the-wicked.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XXIV. Of the judgment and punishment of the wicked", "blurb": "On the Last Judgment and the punishments of the lost. The medieval doctrine in its sober rather than its lurid mode: the chapter aims at fear sufficient to amendment, not at speculation about the precise punishments of hell." }, { "num": 25, "slug": "26-chapter-xxv-of-the-zealous-amendment-of-our-whole-life", "title": "Chapter XXV. Of The Zealous Amendment Of Our Whole Life", "words": 1140, "url": "/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/26-chapter-xxv-of-the-zealous-amendment-of-our-whole-life/", "api": "/api/sources/imitation-of-christ/imit-book-1/26-chapter-xxv-of-the-zealous-amendment-of-our-whole-life.json", "project_translation": false, "subtitle": "XXV. Of the zealous amendment of our whole life", "blurb": "The closing chapter of Book I. The exhortation to a thorough and zealous amendment of life. *Si quotannis cum unum vitium extirparemus, perfecti viri cito efficeremur* — if every year we should extirpate but one vice, we should soon be made perfect men." } ] }