Thomas a Kempis
Thomas a Kempis
Thomas à Kempis, C.R.S.A.; c. 1380 – 25 July 1471) was a Dutch canon regular of the late medieval period and the author of The Imitation of Christ, one of the most popular and best known Christian books on devotion. His name means Thomas "of Kempen", his hometown, and in German he is known as Thomas von Kempen. He also is known by various spellings of his family name: Thomas Haemerken; Thomas Hammerlein; Thomas Hemerken and Thomas Hämerken...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionClergyman
CountryGermany
faith sweet heart
Sweet shall be your rest if your heart does not reproach you.
sweet good-love love-is
Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good. Love alone lightens every burden, and makes rough places smooth. It bears every hardship as though it were nothing, and renders all bitterness sweet and acceptable.
sweet understanding delight
All His glory and beauty come from within, and there He delights to dwell, His visits there are frequent, His conversation sweet, His comforts refreshing; and His peace passing all understanding.
love sweet
How sweet it is to love, and to be dissolved, and as it were to bathe myself in thy love.
sweet love-is light
Love alone makes heavy burdens light and bears in equal balance things pleasing and displeasing. Love bears a heavy burden and does not feel it, and love makes bitter things tasteful and sweet.
spiritual light people
Some people are tempted most strongly at the beginning of their spiritual life, others near the end. Some are troubled all their lives. Still others receive only light temptation. Such things are decided by God, and we can trust his wisdom.
giving grace world
For it is the grace of Christ, and not our own virtue, that gives us the power to overcome the flesh and the world.
How quickly passes away the glory of this world.
Of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.
Bear the Cross cheerfully and it will bear you.
easily peace whose
He will easily be content and at peace, whose conscience is pure.
life truth
Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living.
At the Day of Judgment, we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done.
deep god humble knowledge search surer thyself
An humble knowledge of thyself is a surer way to God than a deep search after learning.