"Of The Imitation of Christ" = "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis?

ethereality · #1 Aug 16, '11, 4:14 pm

Fr. McCloskey recommends this printing of Kempis's book.

I have a book my father purchased: Of the Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, from Summit Books, Baker Book House: Grand Rapids, Michigan. "Pivot edition published February, 1973"; printed on the front cover's top right corner is the price $1.95 -- it's an old book! Pages yellowed ... but it's in good condition. "The most famous book of devotion in Christendom with a special introduction by William J. Petersen" is also printed on the front cover.

I'm a little concerned because my father bought it as a big Southern Baptist / non-denominational Protestant Christian, so I wonder if the translation is well done. I'd also hate for this copy to go to waste (i.e. sit idly on the bookshelf) and buy another copy without good reason.

I intend to read it -- it's probably fine -- but I wondered what your thoughts were. (I looked for a webpage to link you to with this book, similar to amazon.com, but I couldn't find this book for sale on any webpage -- I suppose it's a 70's book that's no longer in print.) You think it's the same translation, no big deal? Why is it titled "Of The Imitation of Christ" instead of simply, "The Imitation of Christ"?

AlexPetrosPio · #2 Apr 10, '12, 1:06 pm

I have this copy.

eschator83 · #3 Apr 12, '12, 9:45 am

I have "My Imitation of Christ," (warrants another option in the poll) by Kempis (probably, c 1450), my edition published by Confraternity of Precious Blood, Brooklyn, 1954. The table of contents of the 5 Books is published at the very end of the book, as well as a short index and a good reading guide by topic.
The forment is very short chapters, primarily with focus on Virtues--my primary difficulty in reading is probably distress in not having chosen celibacy, in approaching poverty only despite my repeated efforts to avoid, and incredible, inexplicable resistence to obedience at every stage and level of life.
Nevertheless, I pray to finish and reread, and I encourage everyone to do so.

Shin · #4 Apr 19, '12, 4:04 pm

From what I have read there are some editions of the work that Protestants have excised the Catholic portions from.

I would compare the language to some of the older versions available, perhaps one of the free etext versions.

eschator83 · #5 Oct 20, '12, 9:14 am

Shin makes a very good suggestion. My Catholic version has Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur on second page--I'm embarassed to say I have a general idea what these mean but don't know the translation--can anybody help? It basically means that the book was favorably reviewed by the Catholic Church officials indicated
The index has only one reference to Purgatory, Book 1, Chapter 24, which includes this statement:
It is better now to purge away our sins and to cut off our vices than to reserve them to be purged hereafter. There seems to be no further description of Purgatory--I wonder if I'm missing something here.
I haven't yet found an on-line version.

Shin · #6 Oct 20, '12, 5:01 pm

The Nihil Obstate means nothing prevents [or obstructs], and the imprimatur, let it be printed.

You can see the Latin roots of english words in it, when you know this can't you? There's a great deal of English and Latin where you can see this.

There's an electronic edition here, at the end of the list under Thomas a Kempis.