La Imitación de Cristo - Multi

The Imitation of Christ.
Author: Blessed Tomas de Kempis.
Date: XV century
Edition: Special corrected from the Colombian version of Father Eliécer Salesman, and the original version. This is a brand new edition consolidated by the author of this application.
Data:
1. It has been the most published Catholic book, after the Holy Bible. It has had more than 3,200 editions.
2. They have called it “the darling of books”, because it is the one that has been published with the most delicacy and elegance in several centuries. A wise man said of him: "It is the most beautiful book that has come out of the hands of men."
3. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Fathers, had such esteem for the Imitation of Christ that he kept a copy on his pew in the church and read a chapter every day after lunch.
4. San Juan Bosco, founder of the Frs. Salesians, says in his autobiography: “In my youth I read the“ Imitation of Christ ”and I was amazed to realize that this book brings more teachings on one page than worldly books in several volumes.
I owe this precious book to having taken a liking to reading spiritual books and having stopped reading worldly books ”(Memoirs No. 36). This great saint said to young people: "After Sacred Scripture, the book that I recommend the most to read is the Imitation of Christ." And he himself tells that Santo Domingo Savio read it every day.
Finally, when he drew up the regulations for the nuns founded by him, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, he wrote in one of his articles: "Among the books to read and meditate they will have the Imitation of Christ."
5. JOHN XXIII narrated: “The day I was elected Pope I was filled with fright and could not find what decision to make. But I randomly opened the Imitation of Christ on the page that came out, and I found there this thought: When God imposes a responsibility and an office, He also promises to give the person the strength and the lights to fulfill that duty that HE has given him. has assigned`. This filled me with peace and tranquility and I accepted the position ”.

6. LIFE AND SPECIAL INFORMATION OF THE AUTHOR: KEMPIS was a German born in 1380 in Kempis (or Kempen), a city near Cologne, and died in 1471. Priest of the Canons Regular of Windesheim. His feast is celebrated on August 30. He was an extremely humble man who spent his 90 years of life between study, prayer and good works, dedicating much of his time to the direction of spiritual people.

7. As we well know, the Imitation of Christ is made up of four little books written by Kempis over various years.
The first book narrates what the active struggle to wage to convert and reform is like, and the obstacles that are presented to those who wish to become a saint; among which is the "siren" of this world who wants to attract through the desire to obtain honors, fame, high positions, titles, easy and sensual life.
The second book was written by Kempis after having suffered many tribulations, contradictions, humiliations and disappointments, especially in the emotional order. They dismissed him from the position of “bursar” that he held, because his temperament was more appropriate for the spiritual than for the material.
It is then when he discovers that friendship with Jesus Christ is the solution for all the sorrows of the soul, and he teaches in the second book how to behave in tribulations and sufferings. He uses the name “Jesus” a lot, indicating the very lively and human tenderness that he feels towards the Redeemer and that he wants his readers to feel as well.
In the third book he already names Jesus with the title of "Lord" and he teaches how to reach total spiritual union with God: through complete self-denial or self-denial.
The fourth book is dedicated to the Eucharist, and is perhaps one of the most beautiful that he has written on this subject: Millions of people have rekindled their Eucharistic fervor by reading the pages of the 4th booklet of the Imitation.
(Eliécer Salesman)