Solace in Suffering: Wisdom from Thomas à Kempis
Overview
Does suffering have meaning?
Where can we turn for strength and consolation? Drawing from the timeless spiritual classic The Imitation of Christ, this book helps you discover the meaning of suffering in everyday life and how these trials can lead you closer to God. Suffering has value when we bear it with Christ who accompanies us. As we embrace the mystery of suffering in our life, we find peace and blessing.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
- Examines the teachings of Thomas à Kempis
- Provides time-tested spiritual guidance for living a Christian life
- The Imitation of Christ and Contempt for All the Foolishness of the World
- On the Usefulness of Adversity
- On Resisting Temptations
- On Interior Conversation
- On Humble Submission
- On the Good and Peaceable Person
- On the Few Who Love the Cross of Jesus
- The Royal Road of the Holy Cross
- The Wonderful Effects of God’s Love
- We Should Place All Our Cares in God
- How to Bear Temporal Miseries with Patience, Imitating the Example of Jesus Christ
- On Supporting Injuries As a Sign of True Patience
- On Our Own Weakness and the Miseries of This Life
- Finding Rest in God Above All Good Gifts
- Remembering God’s Innumerable Blessings
- Four Things That Bring Great Peace
- Calling Upon God and Blessing Him in Time of Trouble
- On Asking God’s Assistance and Confidently Regaining Grace
- There Is No Security from Temptation in This Life
- We Should Deny Ourselves and Imitate Christ by the Cross
- Christ Should Be Received with Great Reverence
- It Is Profitable to Receive Communion Frequently
- Many Benefits Are Given to Those Who Receive You with Devotion
- On Christ’s Self-Offering on the Cross and Our Self-Resignation
- A Devout Soul Should Desire Wholeheartedly to Be United to Christ in This Sacrament
- The Ardent Desire of Some Devout Persons to Receive the Body of Christ
- The Grace of Devotion Acquired by Humility and Self-Denial
- We Must Manifest Our Necessities to Christ and Ask His Grace
Top Highlights
“It is good for us sometimes to have troubles and adversities, for they cause us to look within and recognize that we too are exiles, whose hopes should not be centered on anything in this world. It is good that we sometimes suffer contradictions and that others have the wrong opinion of us, even when our intentions are good. These things are helpful to our humility. They keep us from becoming proud. Because of them we will seek God to witness to our conscience, since outwardly we are despised and not believed.” (Page 5)
“Consider how to turn your heart from what is seen to what is unseen, for those who follow only their senses tarnish their conscience and lose the grace of God.” (Page 3)
“ However, by patience and true humility we become stronger than all our enemies” (Page 8)
“we fail to understand an important point: we can’t escape the cross” (Page xvii)
“I would rather feel repentance than be able to define it” (Page 2)
Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471) is the author of The Imitation of Christ, a classic in Christian literature. As he traveled with his brother to the Netherlands to attend school, he was introduced to the Brethren of the Common Life, followers of Gerard Groote’s Modern Devotion movement. After finishing school, Thomas joined the Mount St. Agnes monastery, where he spent the rest of his life in devotion and prayer. Thomas’ sermons, meditations, and prayers, compiled in The Works of Thomas à Kempis (7 vols), have influenced many Christian writers.