Thomas à Kempis

“ THAT WE OUGHT TO DENY OURSELVES AND IMITATE CHRIST BY THE CROSS.
Y son, the more thou canst go out of thyself, so much the more wilt thou be able to enter into Me.
As to desire no outward thing produceth inward peace, so the forsaking of ourselves inwardly, joineth us unto God.
I would have thee learn perfect resignation of thyself to My will, without contradiction or complaint.
Follow thou Me: I am the way, the truth, and the life. Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living. I am the way, which thou oughtest to follow ”

“ Nature is covetous, doth more willingly receive than give, and loveth to have things private and her own.
Grace is kind of heart, and ready to share with others, shunneth private interest, is content with a little, judgeth that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Nature inclines a man to the creature, to his own flesh, to vanities, and to wandering hither and thither. Grace draweth him unto God and to every virtue, renounceth the creature, avoideth the world, hateth the desires of the flesh, restraineth wanderings, blushes to be seen in public. ”

“ Thou alone art good, just, and holy; Thou canst do all things, Thou accomplishest all things. Thou fillest all things, only the sinner Thou leavest empty.
Remember Thy mercies, and fill my heart with Thy grace, Thou Who wilt not that Thy works should be void and in vain.
6. How can I bear up myself in this miserable life, unless Thou strengthen me with Thy mercy and grace? Turn not Thy face away from me; delay not Thy visitation; withdraw not Thy consolation, lest my soul become as a thirsty land. ”

“ Visit me with Thy salvation, that I may taste in spirit Thy sweetness, which plentifully lieth hid in this sacrament as in a fountain.
Enlighten also mine eyes to behold so great a mystery, and strengthen me with undoubting faith to believe it.
For it is Thy work, and no human power; Thy sacred institution, not man's invention.
For of himself no man is able to comprehend and understand these things, which surpass even the understanding of angels. ”

“ It is therefore vanity to seek after riches which perish, and to trust in them.
It is vanity also to strive after honours, and to climb to high degree.
It is vanity to follow the desires of the flesh, and to labour for that for which thou must afterwards suffer most grievous punishment.
Vanity it is to desire to live long, and not to be careful to live well.
It is vanity to mind only this present life, and not to make provision for those things which are to come.
It is vanity to love that which speedily passeth away, and not to hasten thither where everlasting joy awaiteth thee. ”

“ A devout man beareth everywhere about with him his own comforter Jesus, and saith unto him, "Be Thou present with me, O Lord Jesu, in every time and place.
"Let this be my comfort, to be willing to lack all human comfort.
"And if Thy comfort be wanting, let Thy will and just proving of me be unto me as the greatest comfort; for Thou wilt not always be angry, neither wilt Thou chide for ever." ”

“ Grant that I may die to all things that are in the world, and for Thy sake love to be contemned, and not known in this generation.
Grant to me above all things to desire to rest in Thee, and in Thee to have my heart at peace.
Thou art the true peace of the heart: Thou its only rest; out of Thee all things are full of trouble. ”

“ Thanks be unto Thee, O Thou Creator and Redeemer of mankind, Who to manifest Thy love to the whole world, hast prepared a great supper, wherein Thou hast set before us to be eaten, not the typical lamb, but Thine own most sacred body and blood, rejoicing all the faithful with this holy banquet, and replenishing them to the full with the cup of salvation.
6. O how great and honourable is the office of God's priests, to whom it is given with sacred words to consecrate this sacrament of the Lord of glory ”

“ A certain one by entirely loving Me, became instructed in divine things, and was wont to speak admirable truths.
He profited more by forsaking all things, than by studying niceties.
But to some men I speak common things, to others things uncommon; to some I appear sweetly by signs and figures, and to some I reveal mysteries with much light.
The voice of books is indeed one, but it instructs not all alike; I am the teacher of the truth, I am the searcher of the heart, the discerner of the thoughts, the mover of actions, distributing to every man as I judge meet. ”

“ For this most high and precious sacrament is the health both of soul and body, the medicine for all spiritual languor; hereby my vices are cured, my passions bridled, my temptations overcome or at least weakened; greater grace is infused, virtue begun is increased, faith is confirmed, hope strengthened, and love inflamed and enlarged.
3. For Thou hast bestowed, and still oftentimes dost bestow many benefits in this sacrament upon Thy beloved ones that communicate devoutly, O my God, the protector of my soul, the strengthener of human frailty, and the giver of all inward comfort. ”

“ For all things, that seem to belong to the attainment of peace and felicity, without Thee are nothing, and do bring in truth no felicity at all.
Thou therefore art all that is good, the height of life, the depth of all that can be spoken; and to hope in Thee above all things, is the strongest comfort of Thy servant.
To Thee therefore do I lift up mine eyes; in Thee my God, the Father of mercies, do I put my trust. ”

“ Fear thou the judgments of God, and dread the wrath of the Almighty. Discuss not thou the works of the Most High, but search diligently thine own iniquities, in how great things thou hast offended, and how many good things thou hast neglected.
Some have their devotion only in books, some in pictures, some in outward signs and figures.
Some have Me in their mouths, but little in their hearts.
Others there are who, being illuminated in their understanding, and purged in their affection, do always pant after eternal things, are unwilling to hear of the things of this world, and serve the necessities of nature with grief; ”

“ Mere empty glory is in truth an evil pest, a great vanity; because it draweth a man from true glory, and robbeth him of heavenly grace.
For whilst he pleaseth himself, he displeaseth Thee; whilst he gapeth after the praise of men, he is deprived of true virtues.
5. But the true glory and holy exultation is for a man to glory in Thee, and not in himself; to rejoice in Thy name, not in his own strength, and not to deligh in any creature but for Thy sake. ”

“ Do Thou pluck me away, and deliver me from all the unlasting comfort of this world: for no created thing can fully comfort and quiet my desires.
Join Thou me to Thyself with an inseparable band of love; for Thou, even Thou alone, dost satisfy him that loveth Thee, and without Thee all things are vain. ”

“ Because Thou, O Lord, my God, art supremely good above all; Thou alone art most high. Thou alone most powerful, Thou alone most full and sufficient, Thou alone most sweet and most full of consolation.
Thou alone art most lovely and loving, Thou alone most noble and glorious above all things, in Whom all good things together both perfectly are, and ever have been, and shall be. ”

“ I grieve that I remain so dry, and without hearty affection; that I am not wholly inflamed in Thy presence, O my God, and not so earnestly drawn and affected as many devout persons, who out of a vehement desire of the holy communion, and strong affection of heart could not restrain themselves from weeping. And these with desire both of soul and body, earnestly longed after Thee, O God, the fountain of life: not being otherwise able to satisfy their hunger, but by receiving Thy body and blood with all delight and spiritual eagerness. ”

“ But some things draw us to love the world, others to contemn it. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life draw us to the love of the world; but the pains and miseries that justly follow them cause a hatred and loathing of the world. ”

“ In the cross is salvation, in the cross is life, in the cross is protection against our enemies, in the cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness, in the cross is strength of mind, in the cross joy of spirit, in the cross the height of virtue, in the cross the perfection of sanctity. ”

“ I long after the joy of peace, the peace of Thy children I earnestly crave, who are fed by Thee in the light of Thy comfort.
If Thou give peace, if Thou pour into my heart holy joy, the soul of Thy servant shall be full of melody, and shall become devout in Thy praise. ”

“ Behold I offered up Myself wholly unto My Father for thee, and gave My whole body and blood for thy food, that I might be wholly thine, and that thou mightest continue Mine to the end.
But if thou abidest in thyself, and dost not offer thyself up freely unto My will, thine oblation is not entire, neither will there be perfect union between us.
Therefore a free offering of thyself into the hands of God ought to go before all thine actions, if thou desire to obtain liberty and grace.
For this cause so few become free and enlightened, because they do not wholly deny themselves. ”

“ HOW THAT WE OUGHT TO CALL UPON GOD, AND BLESS HIM WHEN TRIBULATION IS UPON US.
LESSED be Thy Name, O Lord, for ever; for that it is Thy will that this temptation and tribulation should come upon me. ”

“ O how sweet is Thy spirit, O Lord, Who to the end Thou mightest shew forth Thy sweetness toward Thy children, dost vouchsafe to feed them with the bread which is full of all sweetness, even that which cometh down from heaven.
Surely there is no other nation so great, that hath God so nigh unto them, as Thou our God art present to all Thy faithful ones. ”

“ Of true contrition and humbling of the heart ariseth hope of forgiveness; the troubled conscience is reconciled; that which was lost, is recovered; man is preserved from the wrath to come; and God and the penitent soul meet together with a holy kiss.
4. Humble contrition for sins is an acceptable sacrifice unto Thee, O Lord, savouring much sweeter in Thy sight than the perfume of frankincense.
This is also the pleasant ointment, which Thou wouldst to be poured upon Thy sacred feet; for a contrite and humbled heart Thou never hast despised. ”

“ Be thou therefore always in readiness, and so lead thy life that death may never take thee unprepared.
Many die suddenly: for the Son of Man cometh in an hour when we think not.
When that last hour comes, thou wilt have a far different opinion of thy life that is past, and be exceeding sorry that thou hast been so careless and remiss.
4. O how wise and happy is he that laboureth to be such an one in his life, as he will desire to be found at the hour of death! ”

“ Man approacheth so much the nearer unto God, the farther he departeth from all earthly comfort.
And the lower he descendeth in himself, and the meaner he becometh in his own sight, the higher he ascendeth to God.
But he that attributeth any good unto himself, hindereth the entry of God's grace; for the grace of the Holy Spirit ever seeketh an humble heart.
If thou couldest perfectly annihilate thyself, and empty thyself of all created love, then should I be constrained to flow into thee with great abundance of grace. ”

“ LESSED is he that understandeth what it is to love Jesus, and to despise himself for Jesus' sake.
Thou oughtest to leave thy beloved for the beloved; for Jesus must be loved alone above all things. ”

“ HE glory of a good man, is the testimony of a good conscience.
Have a good conscience, and thou shalt ever have joy.
A good conscience is able to bear very much, and is very cheerful in adversities.
An evil conscience is always fearful and unquiet.
Thou shalt rest sweetly, if thy heart do not condemn thee. ”

“ Behold, I know every one, and do see all things that are done under the sun; also I understand how it is with every one, what he thinks, what he wishes, and what his intentions are.
Unto Me therefore all things are to be committed: but do thou keep thyself in peace, and leave the unquiet to be as unquiet as they will.
Whatsoever they shall have done or said, shall come upon themselves, for Me they cannot deceive.
2. Be not careful for the shadow of a great name, or for the familiar friendship of many, or for the particular affection of men. ”