Additional information
by Thomas À. Kempis (Author)
As Thomas Kempis, a serene and devoted man of God, walked in the Lord's presence, he discovered priceless steps to becoming more like Christ every day. In Of the Imitation of Christ, which has been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible, the author presents timeless principles for living the Christian life, including how to:
- Hear God's voice
- Turn adversity to good
- Overcome temptation
- Have perfect love
- Find lasting peace
Author Biography
Thomas à Kempis (1379-1471) was a German monk who emphasized withdrawal from the attractions of the world.
Born in the Rhineland town of Kempen, he attended a school at nearby Deventer in Holland that had been started by Gerard Groote, founder of the Brothers of the Common Life. These were men devoted to prayer, simplicity, and union with God. When Thomas was nineteen, he entered the monastery of Mount St. Agnes, which the brothers had recently started near Zwolle in Holland. He spent the rest of his long life behind the walls of that monastery.
Thomas devoted himself to prayer, study, copying manuscripts, teaching novices, offering Mass, and hearing the confessions of people who came to the monastery church. He wrote a number of sermons, letters, hymns, and information about the lives of the saints. Thomas is most famous for Of the Imitation of Christ, a little instruction book on how to love God.
