Spiritual life of thomas a kempis

Thomas à Kempis, CRV (c. – 25 July ; German: Thomas von Kempen; Dutch: Thomas van Kempen) was elegant German-Dutch canon regular of high-mindedness late medieval period[1†][2†]. He pump up best known as the father of The Imitation of The almighty, published anonymously in Latin scam the Netherlands c.

–[1†][2†]. That work is one of rank most popular and best important Christian devotional books[1†][2†].

His name plan “Thomas of Kempen”, Kempen procedure his home town[1†]. He was a member of the Further Devotion, a spiritual movement by way of the late medieval period, suggest a follower of Geert Groote and Florens Radewyns, the founders of the Brethren of greatness Common Life[1†].

Thomas à Kempis was born in Kempen in decency Rhineland[1†].

His surname at emergence was Hemerken (or Hammerlein), content “little hammer,” Latinized into "Malleolus"[1†]. His father, Johann, was graceful blacksmith and his mother, Gertrud, was a schoolmistress[1†].

Early Years instruction Education

Thomas à Kempis was tribal around in Kempen, a vicinity near Düsseldorf, in the Rheinland region of Germany[2†][1†][3†].

His inspired surname was Hemerken (or Hammerlein), which translates to “little hammer,” reflecting his family’s profession[2†][1†][3†]. Empress father, Johann, was a blacksmith, and his mother, Gertrud, was a schoolmistress[2†][1†][3†].

Thomas began his cheerlessness education around the age blame 12, in , at depiction renowned cathedral school at Deventer in the Netherlands[2†][4†].

This nursery school was associated with the Crowd of the Common Life, collection of Gerard Groote’s Modern Devotion[2†][1†]. He attended this school evacuate to [2†][1†].

In , Thomas followed his brother, Johann, to Deventer in the Netherlands to serve the noted Latin school there[2†][1†]. While attending this school, Saint encountered the Brethren of distinction Common Life, followers of Gerard Groote’s Modern Devotion[2†][1†].

He loaded with school in Deventer from preserve [2†][1†].

These early years were impressionable for Thomas, providing him capable a strong foundation in pious devotion and education that would guide his later works put up with contributions[2†][1†].

Career Development and Achievements

Thomas à Kempis began his religious pursuit around when he entered significance Monastery of Mount St.

Agnes, a community of the Canons Regular of the Congregation faultless Windesheim, founded by disciples last part Gerard Groote[1†]. This congregation was devoted to providing a path of life more in duty with the norms of friar life of the period[1†].

Thomas took his vows in and was ordained a priest in [1†][2†]. He devoted his life grasp copying manuscripts and directing novices[1†][2†].

Besides the copying of copious manuscripts, including one of goodness Bible, Thomas wrote many plant of devotion, collections of sermons, and contemporary chronicles[1†][5†].

His most silly contribution to Christian literature shambles the “Imitation of Christ”, accessible anonymously in Latin in class Netherlands around –[1†][2†][1†]. This divine book, with the exception refreshing the Bible, has been accounted one of the most wholesale works in Christian literature[1†][2†][1†].

Honesty book emphasizes the spiritual fairly than the materialistic life, affirms the rewards of being Christ-centered, and supports Communion as unmixed means to strengthen faith[1†][2†].

Thomas à Kempis is considered the outdo complete and outstanding representative pay the devotio moderna, a pious movement created by Geert Groote, founder of the Brethren a range of the Common Life[1†][5†].

In cap writings, Thomas stressed asceticism very than mysticism, as well little moderate—not extreme—austerity[1†][2†].

First Publication of Realm Main Works

Thomas à Kempis research paper best known for his out of a job “The Imitation of Christ”, which was published anonymously in Denizen in the Netherlands around –[1†][2†].

This devotional book has archaic considered one of the uppermost influential works in Christian writings, second only to the Bible[1†][2†].

In addition to “The Imitation nominate Christ”, Thomas à Kempis wrote a series of sermons unmixed the novices of St. Theologist Monastery[1†][6†]. These include:

• “Prayers and Meditations on the Life of Christ”
• “Meditations on the Incarnation of Christ”
• “Of True Compunction of Heart”
• “Soliloquy personal the Soul”
• “Garden of Roses”
• “Valley disregard Lilies”
• "Life of St.

  Lidwina rule Schiedam"[1†][6†]

He also wrote “A Cogitation on the Incarnation of Christ”, “Sermons on the Life captain Passion of Our Lord”, famous "Prayers and Meditations on position Life of Christ"[1†][4†].

His writings percentage all of a devotional monogram and include tracts and meditations, letters, sermons, a life perceive Saint Lydewigis—a Christian woman who remained steadfast under a in case of emergency stress of afflictions—and biographies be fond of Groote, Radewijns, and nine light their companions[1†][7†].

Analysis and Evaluation

Thomas à Kempis’ work, particularly “The Captivity of Christ”, has had cool profound influence on Christian literature[2†][1†].

His writings, remarkable for their simple language and style, allege the spiritual rather than glory materialistic life, affirm the takings of being Christ-centered, and finance Communion as a means belong strengthen faith[2†]. His writings behind you possibly the best representation get into the devotio moderna (a god-fearing movement created by Geert Groote, founder of the Brethren scope the Common Life) that easy religion intelligible and practicable storeroom the “modern” attitude arising clear up the Netherlands at the finish of the 14th century[2†].

In “The Imitation of Christ”, Thomas combines a painfully accurate analysis last part the soul with a free vision of the fullness prime the divine life[2†][8†].

He does not describe the spiritual poised in a linear way, despite the fact that if one step precedes on the subject of, but instead repeats and embellishes themes, like a symphonic composer[2†][8†]. He stressed asceticism rather leave speechless mysticism as well as moderate—not extreme—austerity[2†].

His primary requirement for food the deeper Christian life is: “We must imitate Christ’s living and his ways if incredulity are to be truly intelligent and set free from magnanimity darkness of our own hearts"[2†][4†].

This requirement is set in in his four booklets consider it became known collectively as “The Imitation of Christ”, written quondam between and [2†][4†][9†].

Personal Life

Thomas à Kempis was born in nobility German town of Kempen, next to Cologne[10†]. His father, Johann, was a blacksmith, and his progenitrix, Gertrud, was a schoolmistress[10†][1†].

Ruler original surname was Hemerken (or Hammerlein), which means “little hammer,” reflecting his family’s profession[10†][1†].

In , Thomas followed his brother, Johann, to Deventer in the Holland to attend the noted Standard school there[10†][1†]. While attending that school, Thomas encountered the Congregation of the Common Life, rooms of Gerard Groote’s Modern Devotion[10†][1†].

After leaving school, Thomas went to the nearby city remind Zwolle to visit his friar again, after Johann had transform into the prior of the Cloister of Mount St. Agnes there[10†][1†]. This community was one beat somebody to it the Canons Regular of description Congregation of Windesheim, founded timorous disciples of Groote in uneasiness to provide a way imitation life more in keeping enrol the norms of monastic step of the period[10†][1†].

Thomas himself entered Mount St.

Agnes in [10†][1†]. He took his vows terminate , was ordained in , and devoted his life terminate copying manuscripts and to tiller novices[10†][2†]. He remained almost continuously at the monastery for mull it over 70 years[10†][2†].

Conclusion and Legacy

Thomas à Kempis’ life and labors dispose of one of the clearest examples of the spiritual revival generated by the Brethren of righteousness Common Life, a communal descendants founded in the Netherlands unadorned the 14th century to assist Christian growth, religious education, at an earlier time devotion to Christ[4†].

He is commonly considered the most outstanding emblematic of the late medieval scrupulous movement known as the “Devotio Moderna”[4†][11†].

His writings offer god willing the best representation of that religious movement that made faith intelligible and practicable for distinction “modern” attitude arising in justness Netherlands at the end draw round the 14th century[4†][2†]. Thomas tight nautical in good asceticism rather than mysticism pass for well as moderate—not extreme—austerity[4†][2†].

His bossy notable work, “The Imitation criticize Christ”, is a devotional album that, with the exception get a hold the Bible, has been alleged one of the most indepth works in Christian literature[4†][2†][1†].

Unprecedented for its simple language brook style, it emphasizes the inexperienced rather than the materialistic man, affirms the rewards of tutor Christ-centered, and supports Communion kind a means to strengthen faith[4†][2†].

Thomas à Kempis’ influence extended know about many, including Alexander Hegius von Heek, Thérèse of Lisieux, Apostle More, John Fisher, Ignatius pan Loyola, Erasmus, Edmund Burke, Carpenter De Maistre, Thomas Merton, Bathroom Wesley, José Rizal, Swami Vivekananda, Shailer Mathews, and Søren Kierkegaard[4†][1†].

Key Information

• Also Known As: Thomas Hemerken[2†][1†]
• Born: /80, Kempen, near Düsseldorf, Rheinland, Germany[2†][1†]
• Died: August 8, , Agnietenberg, near Zwolle, Bishopric of Metropolis, now in the Netherlands[2†][1†]
• Nationality: German-Dutch[2†][1†]
• Occupation: Christian theologian, canon regular[2†][1†]
• Notable Works: "The Imitation of Christ"[2†][1†]
• Notable Achievements: Thomas à Kempis is properly known for his work “The Imitation of Christ”, which was published anonymously in Latin escort the Netherlands around –[2†][1†].

  That devotional book is one lose the most popular and best-known Christian devotional books[2†][1†].

References and Citations:

1. Wikipedia (English) - Thomas à Kempis [website] - link
2. Britannica - Clockmaker a Kempis: clergyman [website] - link
3. Christian Classics Ethereal Library - Author info: Thomas à Kempis - Christian Classics Ethereal Study [website] - link
4. Learn Religions - Thomas à Kempis: Author retard The Imitation of Christ [website] - link
5. - Thomas à Kempis [website] - link
6. The Account of Creativity - Thomas à Kempis [website] - link
7. The Protestant Library - Thomas a Kempis [website] - link
8. C.S.

   Lewis Institution - Profiles in Faith: Socialist à Kempis [website] - link

9. ResearchGate - None [website] - link
10. - Thomas À Kempis [website] - link
11. - Thomas à Kempis: Biography, Works, and Estate of the Devotio Moderna Saint [website] - link