A MEDITATION ON THE INCARNATION
OF CHRIST, SERMONS ON THE LIFE AND
PASSION OF OUR LORD AND OF HEARING
AND SPEAKING GOOD WORDS

THOMAS A KEMPIS

A Meditation on the Incarnation of Christ Sermons on the Life and Passion of Our Lord and Of Hearing and Speaking Good Words

BY THOMAS À KEMPIS CANON REGULAR OF THE CONGREGATION OF WINDESHEIM

AUTHORISED TRANSLATION FROM THE TEXT OF THE EDITION OF MICHAEL JOSEPH POHL, PH.D.

BY DOM VINCENT SCULLY, C.R.L.
(PERMISSU SUPERIORUM)

LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., LTD. DRYDEN HOUSE, GERRARD STREET, W. 1907

TO MY ESTEEMED FRIEND SIR FRANCIS CRUISE

CONTENTS

Title Page: A MEDITATION ON THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST, SERMONS ON THE LIFE AND PASSION OF OUR LORD AND OF HEARING AND SPEAKING GOOD WORDS

INTRODUCTION

A MEDITATION ON THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST

HERE BEGINNETH A MEDITATION ON THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE TESTIMONIES OF HOLY WRIT

HERE FOLLOW TESTIMONIES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

A PRAYER TO GREET OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

A PRAYER TO CHRIST, WHO IS THE TRUE LIGHT, WAY, TRUTH AND LIFE

SERMONS OF THE LIFE AND PASSION OF OUR LORD, TO WIT, FROM THE ADVENT OF OUR LORD

I
OF THE DESIRE OF THE PROPHETS AND OF DEVOUT PREPARATION FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST

II
OF MEETING AND WELCOMING THE HEAVENLY KING

III
ON CHRISTMAS DAY. OF THE FEASTS OF THE SOUL

IV
ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT. OF SEEKING THE INFANT JESUS

V
OF THE DEVOUT VISITING OF THE NEW-BORN INFANT JESUS

VI
OF ABIDING NEAR THE VENERABLE CRIB OF CHRIST

VII
OF THE JOY OF THIS DAY, AND THE DEVOUT SERVICE OF JESUS

VIII
OF THE DESIRE OF SEEING AND EMBRACING JESUS

IX
TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN, THAT SHE SHOW US HER SON, JESUS

X
OF THE LOSS AND THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

XI
OF FOUR WAYS OF SEEING JESUS, ACCORDING TO THE AFFECTION OF DEVOTION

XII
OF THE SACRED INSTITUTION OF THE FAST, AFTER THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS CHRIST

XIII
OF TAKING UP NOW A MORE FERVENT AMENDMENT OF LIFE

XIV
OF THE GOING UP OF MOSES INTO MOUNT SINAI

XV
OF THE WORDS OF JESUS, AND CLEANNESS OF HEART

XVI
OF THE LOVE OF JESUS AND SELF-DENIAL

XVII
OF FOLLOWING THE POVERTY OF JESUS, AND CASTING ASIDE CARE FOR TEMPORAL THINGS

XVIII
OF THE WEARINESS OF JESUS AND HIS SAVING DOCTRINE

XIX
OF THE WRITING OF JESUS AND HIS MERCY TOWARDS THE SINFUL WOMAN

XX
OF KEEPING HUMILITY FROM THE CONSIDERATION OF OUR OWN WEAKNESS

XXI
PASSION SUNDAY. OF LAMENTING OVER OUR LORD’S PASSION

XXII
OF THE CROSS OF JESUS, WHICH HE BORE FOR US

XXIII
OF THE MERIT OF OUR LORD’S PASSION, AND THE DIGNITY OF THE HOLY CROSS

XXIV
OF THE MANIFOLD FRUIT FROM REMEMBRANCE OF THE LORD’S PASSION, AND OF THANKFULNESS THEREFORE

XXV
OF PROFITABLE EXERCISE IN THE PASSION OF CHRIST

XXVI
OF SEVEN NOTABLE POINTS OF MEDITATION ON THE PASSION OF CHRIST

XXVII
ON PALM SUNDAY, OF THE PROCESSION OF CHRIST, AND OF THE SIX CLASSES OF MEN, WHO HONOUR CHRIST

XXVIII
OF THE RIDING OF CHRIST, NOT IN PHARAOH’S CHARIOT, BUT ON THE ASS OF HUMILITY

XXIX
OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, AND THE SPIRITUAL CONSOLATION OF THE SOUL

XXX
OF THE JOY OF THE LORD’S RESURRECTION

XXXI
OF THE MYSTIC NAME OF THE PASCH, AND THE LEADING OF A NEW LIFE

XXXII
OF THE ASCENSION OF JESUS INTO HEAVEN

XXXIII
ON THE FEAST OF PENTECOST, OF THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST

XXXIV
OF THE COMFORT OF THE HOLY GHOST

XXXV
OF THE HOLY AND UNITED LIFE OF THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM

OF HEARING AND SPEAKING GOOD WORDS