Can anyone tell me about " My Imitations of Christ" Book?

[Boxerdog]

I found a small blue book called “My imitation of Christ” somewhere in my parents house and I was wondering the history of this book. Its published/ produced by Confraternity of the Precious Blood. Thanks

 

[mommyof4]

Is it “IN imitation of Christ?” That book was written by St. Tomas AKempis a few hundred years ago. It is very good and very readable. If it is not by him, I’m sorry, but I am not familiar with it, then.

 

[Dale_M]

I was wondering the history of this book. Its published/ produced by Confraternity of the Precious Blood.

Are you referring to the 1954 edition, with woodcuts illustrating each chapter? I believe it was re-published in 1982.

Some general information on the history of “Imitation of Christ”:

Theories most popular at the moment ascribe the Imitation to two or three men, members of the Brethren of the Common Life, an association of priests organized in the Netherlands in the latter half of the fourteenth century. That Thomas Hemerken of Kempen, or Thomas Ë Kempis as he is now known, later translated a composite of their writings, essentially a spiritual diary, from the original Netherlandish into Latin is generally admitted by scholars. This Thomas, born about the year 1380, was educated by the Brethren of the Common Life, was moved to join their community, and was ordained priest. His career thereafter was devoted to practicing the counsels of spiritual perfection and to copying books for the schools. From both pursuits evolved The Imitation of Christ. As editor and translator he was not without faults, but thanks to him the Imitation became and has remained, after the Bible, the most widely read book in the world.

link

Imitation of Christ was also the first book picked for the Catholic Answers Book Club
forums.catholic-questions.org/forumdisplay.php?f=70

 

[Boxerdog]

Dale thats it, I have a small pocket copy, its pretty interesting. thanks for the info.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

My mother gave me her orginal copy of this book several years ago. After I lost my interest in religion for about 2 years I dont know what happened to it…my restored and returned Catholic self should probably go ask about it.

 

[Maxply]

I’m reading it right now, doing one chapter each day and concentrating on it.

It is an amazing corrective to many of the “quick and easy” approaches to life popularized by media, etc. It’s quite somber, but I think its message is enormously helpful: takes the focus off of one’s self, helps direct it to God’s purpose.

 

[gelsbern]

I also have a copy of this little book. I meditate on it every day. It is called “My Imitation of Christ” by Thomas A. Kempis and is also from the Confraternity of the Precious Blood. It is a little blue book with gold colors embossing on the cover and is about 474 pages.

I am sure that it is just variation in the titles, as I also own An Imitation of Christ, In Imitation of Christ and, The imitation of Christ and they are all by Thomas A. Kempis.

There is also a reasonable version in modern english here: leaderu.com/cyber/books/imitation/imitation.html