The Imitation of Christ

Thomas à Kempis, 1427

The devotional classic of the late Middle Ages (read with discernment — it predates the Reformation).

Chapter I: Of the imitation of Christ, and of contempt of the world and all its vanities
Chapter II: Of thinking humbly of oneself
Chapter III: Of the knowledge of truth
Chapter IV: Of prudence in action
Chapter V: Of the reading of Holy Scriptures
Chapter VI: Of inordinate affections
Chapter VII: Of fleeing from vain hope and pride
Chapter VIII: Of the danger of too much familiarity
Chapter IX: Of obedience and subjection
Chapter X: Of the danger of superfluity of words
Chapter XI: Of seeking peace of mind and of spiritual progress
Chapter XII: Of the uses of adversity
Chapter XIII: Of resisting temptation
Chapter XIV: On avoiding rash judgment
Chapter XV: Of works of charity
Chapter XVI: Of bearing with the faults of others
Chapter XVII: Of a religious life
Chapter XVIII: Of the example of the Holy Fathers
Chapter XIX: Of the exercises of a religious man
Chapter XX: Of the love of solitude and silence
Chapter XXI: Of compunction of heart
Chapter XXII: On the contemplation of human misery
Chapter XXIII: Of meditation upon death
Chapter XXIV: Of the judgment and punishment of the wicked
Chapter XXV: Of the zealous amendment of our whole life
Chapter I: Of the inward life
Chapter II: Of lowly submission
Chapter III: Of the good, peaceable man
Chapter IV: Of a pure mind and simple intention
Chapter V: Of self-esteem
Chapter VI: Of the joy of a good conscience
Chapter VII: Of loving Jesus above all things
Chapter VIII: Of the intimate love of Jesus
Chapter IX: Of the lack of all comfort
Chapter X: Of gratitude for the Grace of God
Chapter XI: Of the fewness of those who love the Cross of Jesus
Chapter XII: Of the royal way of the Holy Cross
Chapter I: Of the inward voice of Christ to the faithful soul
Chapter II: What the truth saith inwardly without noise of words
Chapter III: How all the words of God are to be heard with humility, and how many consider them not
Chapter IV: How we must walk in truth and humility before God
Chapter V: Of the wonderful power of the Divine Love
Chapter VI: Of the proving of the true lover
Chapter VII: Of hiding our grace under the guard of humility
Chapter VIII: Of a low estimation of self in the sight of God
Chapter IX: That all things are to be referred to God, as the final end
Chapter X: That it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God
Chapter XI: That the desires of the heart are to be examined and governed
Chapter XII: Of the inward growth of patience, and of the struggle against evil desires
Chapter XIII: Of the obedience of one in lowly subjection after the example of Jesus Christ
Chapter XIV: Of meditation upon the hidden judgments of God, that we may not be lifted up because of our well-doing
Chapter XV: How we must stand and speak, in everything that we desire
Chapter XVI: That true solace is to be sought in God alone
Chapter XVII: That all care is to be cast upon God
Chapter XVIII: That temporal miseries are to be borne patiently after the example of Christ
Chapter XIX: Of bearing injuries, and who shall be approved as truly patient
Chapter XX: Of confession of our infirmity and of the miseries of this life
Chapter XXI: That we must rest in God above all goods and gifts
Chapter XXII: Of the recollection of God's manifold benefits
Chapter XXIII: Of four things which bring great peace
Chapter XXIV: Of avoiding of curious inquiry into the life of another
Chapter XXV: Wherein firm peace of heart and true profit consist
Chapter XXVI: Of the exaltation of a free spirit, which humble prayer more deserveth than doth frequent reading
Chapter XXVII: That personal love greatly hindereth from the highest good
Chapter XXVIII: Against the tongues of detractors
Chapter XXIX: How when tribulation cometh we must call upon and bless God
Chapter XXX: Of seeking divine help, and the confidence of obtaining grace
Chapter XXXI: Of the neglect of every creature, that the Creator may be found
Chapter XXXII: Of self-denial and the casting away all selfishness
Chapter XXXIII: Of instability of the heart, and of directing the aim towards God
Chapter XXXIV: That to him who loveth God is sweet above all things and in all things
Chapter XXXV: That there is no security against temptation in this life
Chapter XXXVI: Against vain judgments of men
Chapter XXXVII: Of pure and entire resignation of self, for the obtaining liberty of heart
Chapter XXXVIII: Of a good government in external things, and of having recourse to God in dangers
Chapter XXXIX: That man must not be immersed in business
Chapter XL: That man hath no good in himself, and nothing whereof to glory
Chapter XLI: Of contempt of all temporal honour
Chapter XLII: That our peace is not to be placed in men
Chapter XLIII: Against vain and worldly knowledge
Chapter XLIV: Of not troubling ourselves about outward things
Chapter XLV: That we must not believe everyone, and that we are prone to fall in our words
Chapter XLVI: Of having confidence in God when evil words are cast at us
Chapter XLVII: That all troubles are to be endured for the sake of eternal life
Chapter XLVIII: Of the day of eternity and of the straitnesses of this life
Chapter XLIX: Of the desire after eternal life, and how great blessings are promised to those who strive
Chapter L: How a desolate man ought to commit himself into the hands of God
Chapter LI: That we must give ourselves to humble works when we are unequal to those that are lofty
Chapter LII: That a man ought not to reckon himself worthy of consolation, but more worthy of chastisement
Chapter LIII: That the Grace of God doth not join itself to those who mind earthly things
Chapter LIV: Of the diverse motions of Nature and of Grace
Chapter LV: Of the corruption of Nature and the efficacy of Divine Grace
Chapter LVI: That we ought to deny ourselves, and to imitate Christ by means of the Cross
Chapter LVII: That a man must not be too much cast down when he falleth into some faults
Chapter LVIII: Of deeper matters, and God's hidden judgments which are not to be inquired into
Chapter LIX: That all hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone
Chapter I: With how great reverence Christ must be received
Chapter II: That the greatness and charity of God is shown to men in the Sacrament
Chapter III: That it is profitable to Communicate often
Chapter IV: That many good gifts are bestowed upon those who Communicate devoutly
Chapter V: Of the dignity of this Sacrament, and of the office of the priest
Chapter VI: An inquiry concerning preparation for Communion
Chapter VII: Of the examination of conscience, and purpose of amendment
Chapter VIII: Of the oblation of Christ upon the cross, and of resignation of self
Chapter IX: That we ought to offer ourselves and all that is ours to God, and to pray for all
Chapter X: That Holy Communion is not lightly to be omitted
Chapter XI: That the Body and Blood of Christ and the Holy Scriptures are most necessary to a faithful soul
Chapter XII: That he who is about to Communicate with Christ ought to prepare himself with great diligence
Chapter XIII: That the devout soul ought with the whole heart to yearn after union with Christ in the Sacrament
Chapter XIV: Of the fervent desire of certain devout persons to receive the Body and Blood of Christ
Chapter XV: That the grace of devotion is acquired by humility and self-denial
Chapter XVI: That we ought to lay open our necessities to Christ and to require his Grace
Chapter XVII: Of fervent love and vehement desire of receiving Christ
Chapter XVIII: That a man should not be a curious searcher of the Sacrament, but a humble imitator of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith