The Imitation of Christ, Book II: with Edits, Comments, and Fictional Narrative by Timothy E. Moore

Book II: Admonitions Concerning Interior Things.

Thomas a'Kempis advises those who want to follow Jesus to go deeper by clearing out space within themselves to find friendship with Jesus. That friendship requires an emptying of self and an acceptance of our own cross, which we carry alongside and behind His Cross.

The fictional narrative shows the reader the personal journal of Thomas, and the visitation of the Black Plague upon his monastery and village in 1421. Thomas' encounter with suffering and death take him to a confrontation that defies reality and forces him to see himself through the eyes of his mentor and then through the eyes of Christ Himself. Moore's fictional narrative sets up the writing of Book II of this Devotional Classic. Moore holds up a mirror to the twenty-first century to that of the fifteenth century, drawing parallels to our own calamitous times.

Second only to the Bible in its popularity, The Imitation of Christ takes the Disciple through the path which Chris asks us to walk. These admonitions take us deep into our interior life. We should retreat into our interior rooms and make space for Christ. The Novice Master takes us to the next level of our relationship with Jesus.

This edition of The Imitation of Christ, with comments and highlights by Tim Moore, invite the reader to an overview of each chapter and application of each meditation. Moore provides a short, fictional narrative from the point of view of Thomas, which places the reader into the mind of the Novice Master as he composes his masterwork. You can follow Tim's comments and edits through his web site at timothyedmoore.com.

Thomas a'Kempis, nee Thomas Hemerken ("little hammer"), was born in Kempen, Germany, around 1380. His brother, Jan became the first Prior of of Mount St Agnes Monastery. In 1392 Thomas followed Jan to Deventer to attend the Latin school under Prior Florentius Radewyns, one of the founders of the Brethren of the Common Life, and mentor to Thomas. Prior Radewyns was the successor of Gerard Groote, the Founder of the Modern Devotion. Thomas became a monk at Mount St. Agnes in 1406, receiving priestly orders in 1413. During his life at the monastery, Thomas held several positions, including Novice Master, Sub-prior and Scriptorium Keeper. As Novice Master, Thomas spent much of his time instructing those newly admitted to the monastery, as well as overseeing the Scriptorium and Library. During this time The Imitation began to take shape, citing Scripture directly or by allusion at every turn of the page (Thomas copied the Bible at least four times). The original text was rendered in Latin verse. Thomas died in 1471, is rumored to have been buried alive, and his remains are in the Church of The Assumption of Mary, in Zwolle, NL.

Timothy E. Moore's principal focus is on the life and writings of Thomas a'Kempis. Thomas, a 15th century Priest and Monk, lived at Mt. St. Agnes Monastery outside Zwolle, NL. Thomas' focus was on imitating Christ in daily life there. Tim is an attorney, author and public speaker. Tim writes from Springfield, Illinois. All profits from the sale of this book go to the sonogram program at Springfield Right to Life, a human rights organization.