The Imitation of Christ
Foreword2. Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth3. Having a Humble Opinion of Self4. The Doctrine of Truth5. Prudence in Action6. Reading the Holy Scripture7. Unbridled Affections8. Avoiding False Hope and Pride9. Shunning Over-Familiarity10. Obedience and Subjection11. Avoiding Idle Talk12. Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Perfection13. The Value of Adversity14. Resisting Temptation15. Avoiding Rash Judgment16. Works Done in Charity17. Bearing with the Faults of Others18. Monastic Life19. The Example Set Us by the Holy Fathers20. The Practices of a Good Religious21. The Love of Solitude and Silence22. Sorrow of Heart23. Thoughts on the Misery of Man24. Thoughts on Death25. Judgment and the Punishment of Sin26. Zeal in Amending our Lives27. Meditation28. Humility29. Goodness and Peace in Man30. Purity of Mind and Unity of Purpose31. Ourselves32. The Joy of a Good Conscience33. Loving Jesus Above All Things34. The Intimate Friendship of Jesus35. Wanting No Share in Comfort36. Appreciating God's Grace37. Few Love the Cross of Jesus38. The Royal Road of the Holy Cross39. The Inward Conversation of Christ with the Faithful Soul40. Truth Speaks Inwardly Without the Sound of Words41. Listen Humbly to the Words of God. Many Do Not Heed Them42. We Must Walk Before God in Humility and Truth43. The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love44. The Proving of a True Lover45. Grace Must Be Hidden Under the Mantle of Humility46. Self-Abasement in the Sight of God47. All Things should be Referred to God as their Last End48. To Despise the World and Serve God is Sweet49. The Longings of our Hearts Must be Examined and Moderated50. Acquiring Patience in the Fight Against Concupiscence51. The Obedience of One Humbly Subject to the Example of Jesus Christ52. Consider the Hidden Judgments of God Lest You Become Proud of Your Own Good Deeds53. How One Should Feel and Speak on Every Desirable Thing54. True Comfort Is to Be Sought in God Alone55. All Our Care is to Be Placed in God56. Temporal Sufferings Should Be Borne Patiently, After the Example of Christ57. True Patience in Suffering58. Confessing Our Weakness in the Miseries of Life59. Above All Goods and All Gifts We Must Rest in God60. Remember the Innumerable Gifts of God61. Four Things Which Bring Great Peace62. Avoiding Curious Inquiry About the Lives of Others63. The Basis of Firm Peace of Heart and True Progress64. The Excellence of a Free Mind, Gained Through Prayer Rather Than By Study65. Self-Love is the Greatest Hindrance to the Highest Good66. Strength Against Slander67. How We Must Call Upon and Bless the Lord When Trouble Presses68. The Quest of Divine Help and Confidence in Regaining Grace69. To Find the Creator, Forsake All Creatures70. Self-Denial and the Renunciation of Evil Appetites71. Restlessness of Soul—Directing Our Final Intention Toward God72. God is Sweet Above All Things and in All Things to Those Who Love Him73. There is No Security from Temptation in This Life74. The Vain Judgments of Men75. Pure and Entire Resignation of Self to Obtain Freedom of Heart76. The Right Ordering of External Affairs; Recourse to God in Dangers77. A Man Should Not Be Unduly Solicitous About His Affairs78. Man Has No Good in Himself and Can Glory in Nothing79. Contempt for All Earthly Honor80. Peace is Not to Be Placed in Men81. Beware Vain and Worldly Knowledge82. Do Not Be Concerned About Outward Things83. All Men Are Not to Be Believed, for It Is Easy to Err in Speech84. Trust in God Against Slander85. Every Trial Must Be Borne for the Sake of Eternal Life86. The Day of Eternity and the Distresses of This Life87. The Desire of Eternal Life; the Great Rewards Promised to Those Who Struggle88. How a Desolate Person Ought to Commit Himself Into the Hands of God89. When We Cannot Attain to the Highest, We Must Practice the Humble Works90. A Man Ought Not to Consider Himself Worthy of Consolation, But Rather Deserving of Chastisement91. God's Grace Is Not Given to the Earthly Minded92. The Different Motions of Nature and Grace93. The Corruption of Nature and the Efficacy of Divine Grace94. We Ought to Deny Ourselves and Imitate Christ Through Bearing the Cross95. A Man Should Not Be Too Downcast When He Falls Into Defects96. High Matters and the Hidden Judgments of God Are Not to Be Scrutinized97. All Hope and Trust Are to Be Fixed In God Alone98. An Invitation to Holy Communion99. The Great Reverence With Which We Should Receive Christ100. God's Great Goodness and Love is Shown to Man in This Sacrament101. It Is Profitable to Receive Communion Often102. Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily103. The Dignity of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood104. An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion105. The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend106. The Offering of Christ on the Cross; Our Offering107. We Should Offer Ourselves and All That We Have to God, Praying for All108. Do Not Lightly Forego Holy Communion109. The Body of Christ and Sacred Scripture Are Most Necessary to a Faithful Soul110. The communicant Should Prepare Himself for Christ with Great Care111. With All Her Heart the Devout Soul Should Desire Union with Christ in the Sacrament112. The Ardent Longing of Devout Men for the Body of Christ113. The Grace of Devotion is Acquired Through Humility and Self-Denial114. We Should Show Our Needs to Christ and Ask His Grace115. The Burning Love and Strong Desire to Receive Christ116. Man Should Not Scrutinize This Sacrament in Curiosity, But Humbly Imitate Christ and Submit Reason to Holy Faith117. Subject Index