The Imitation of Christ

Psst… want a sneak peak at the book?

Check out the preface below!

Preface to The Imitation of Christ: A Modern Translation, by Peter Northcutt

The most widely read book of all time is, of course, the Bible. It may come as a surprise, however, that many scholars believe the second most widely read book ever written is the one you are reading now. The Imitation of Christ has established itself atop planet Earth’s unofficial best sellers list for more than 500 years, earning immediate popularity upon publication that only grew over the centuries. Characterized by an ardent call to the inner life, this classic devotional has encouraged millions of readers to follow the example of Jesus into holiness, simplicity, and humility.

Though the author is ultimately unknown, this masterpiece has traditionally been attributed to a German-Dutch monk named Thomas à Kempis. Thomas was born in Kempen, Germany in 1379 and joined the Order of the Canons Regular of the monastery of Mount Saint Agnes in the Netherlands at the age of 19. He spent most of his life at the monastery, where he worked as a copyist, writer, and spiritual director until his death at the age of 92. In 1429, Thomas was named subprior of the monastery and tasked with training the newest members of the community. He wrote The Imitation as spiritual guidance for these pupils. 

Thomas’ monastery belonged to a group who called themselves the Brothers and Sisters of the Common Life.  This movement, called “the New Devotion,” chose to withdraw from the uncertainties of a time period marked by the plague, Church conflicts, and social uprisings. Their approach was to live a life of simplicity and devotion within the monastery walls, prioritizing the cultivation of a deep connection with God over theological correctness and doctrine. Thomas and his fellow members of the community dedicated their lives to creating what they called an “inner room” within themselves, a personal space where they could commune with Christ. The wisdom gained from years of retreat into this inner life with God provides the basis for Thomas’ teachings.

The Imitation is split into four sections, called “books.” In Book One, "Advice for a Spiritual Life," Thomas focuses on the importance of cultivating a spiritual life and relationship with God. As a man who only left the confines of the monastery twice after taking his vows, he naturally discourages any attachment to material things. Book One also focuses especially on intellectual humility, instructing that “a humble understanding of oneself is a surer path to God than the deep study of human learning.” 

Book Two, "Suggestions for the Inner Life,” delves deeper into the inner life and the challenges we might face in seeking a closer relationship with God. Thomas instructs the reader to turn their attention away from external matters and onto their own soul. “Learn to focus on your inner self,” he writes, “and you will see the kingdom of God come within you.” 

The structure of this devotional shifts a bit in Book Three, "Inner Comfort," as Thomas imagines a dialogue between himself and Christ. The voice of Christ encourages Thomas to be humble, to walk in obedience to God, and to cast all worries upon Him. Christ also calls Thomas to adopt a disdain for the worldly things around him and to love only God. “A wise lover,” says the voice of Christ, “considers the love of the giver more than the gift itself.” 

The final book, "The Sacrament of the Altar,” is devoted to Communion and the sacramental life of the Church. It instructs us to prepare ourselves for Communion by examining our lives and consciences and confessing our faults before God. Thomas always recognizes, however, that it is God’s righteousness, not ours, that allows us to partake in Christ’s body and blood. “You must know,” says Christ, “it is only by My kindness and grace that you are allowed to approach My table, as if a beggar were invited to a rich man's dinner and had no other way to repay him but to show humility and gratitude.” 

These four sections are comprised of short, easily-digestible chapters, creating a “daily devotional” that has been eagerly consumed by Christians throughout the centuries, including some of the most influential Christians of recent memory. Thomas More called The Imitation one of the three books everyone should own. C.S. Lewis read it “pretty nearly every day.” Dallas Willard said it is “absolutely indispensable.” Thérèse of Lisieux “always had it with (her), to the amusement of (her) people at home.” And that is just to name a few. 

In recent times, however, this classic of Christian devotion has been neglected by modern readers in part due to its seemingly antiquated themes. It encourages readers to withdraw from worldly things and retreat in prayer to the inner room inside our souls. Thomas uses words like “disdain” when reflecting on the world around him, and he speaks about the afterlife with much more affection than he does the life he lived on earth. But of course, this surprising, countercultural worldview is what makes this book an all-time classic. While his language may seem brash at times, Thomas pulls no punches when instructing his students in the spiritual life. His purpose in writing The Imitation is ultimately to encourage his students to set their minds on things above, not on things of the earth, so that they can rid their lives of distraction and cultivate a life of prayer.

This book’s subversive themes are not the only reason for its decline in popularity, however. As it was written over 500 years ago, the language has naturally become archaic and inaccessible to modern readers. So, in order to reach the next generation of readers, we at Modern Saints have breathed new life into the classic text, writing a faithful, fresh translation based on a popular English translation published in 1874. Our goal was to create the book that would have been published had it been written in the 21st century. Here are the three basic ways in which we adapted this book:

• Sentence structures and vocabulary were altered to better suit modern readers,

• Paragraphs were broken up or consolidated for clarity,

• And, while nearly a word-for-word translation, short bits of text were added or removed intermittently to help the flow of reading.

The result of these adaptations is a fun and fresh reading experience void of needless struggle, allowing you to focus not on wading through archaic language but on contemplating the depth of Thomas’ wisdom.

As noted before, The Imitation has traditionally been treated as a daily devotional. As C.S. Lewis suggests, it should be read “a little bit at a time, more like sucking a lozenge than eating a slice of bread.” If you read it in this way, it will provide motivation and encouragement to spend each day with your eyes on God, teaching you to rid your life of vanity and to consider yourself as a “stranger and traveler in this world.” You may also choose to read many chapters at a time to get a broader grasp of Thomas’ views. But whatever you choose to do, we advise that you take time to reflect on and pray about the succinct yet weighty words of the spiritual master in order to get the most out of your reading.

Lastly, it’s important to remember the time period in which this book was written. It can be tempting to discard Thomas as overly pessimistic when you read passages such as, “Oh, what a life this is, where tribulations and miseries never stop… How can it be called life when it produces so many deaths and plagues?” But Thomas’ words become illuminated when we remember that he lived through the Black Plague, the most fatal pandemic in human history. And while his intense instruction to reject the world may at times feel more fitted for the 15th century than the 21st, the underlying principles remain just as true today as when they were written. Even in a time of modern conveniences, suffering is not something we can or should avoid. As Christ himself said, we are to “take up our crosses” and follow Him. So, whether we are a monk or a marketing manager, clergy or cafeteria worker, we are all called at times to reject worldly things and instead cultivate the inner rooms within our own souls. 

I pray God uses The Imitation in your life as He has in so many others throughout the centuries. In reading this book, you are joining millions of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have fallen more in love with Him through this spiritual classic. As Thomas Carlyle said, may we all “derive nourishment and strengthening from what has already nourished and strengthened so many.”