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The Imitation of Christ
Thomas à Kempis
The Sixth Chapter
THE PROVING OF A TRUE LOVER
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
MY CHILD, you are not yet a brave and wise lover.
THE DISCIPLE
Why, Lord?
THE VOICE OF CHRIST
Because, on account of a slight difficulty you give up what you have undertaken
and are too eager to seek consolation.
The brave lover stands firm in temptations and pays no heed to the crafty
persuasions of the enemy. As I please him in prosperity, so in adversity I am
not displeasing to him. The wise lover regards not so much the gift of Him Who
loves as the love of Him Who gives. He regards the affection of the Giver rather
than the value of the gift, and sets his Beloved above all gifts. The noble
lover does not rest in the gift but in Me Who am above every gift.
All is not lost, then, if you sometimes feel less devout than you wish toward Me
or My saints. That good and sweet feeling which you sometimes have is the effect
of present grace and a certain foretaste of your heavenly home. You must not
lean upon it too much, because it comes and goes. But to fight against evil
thoughts which attack you is a sign of virtue and great merit. Do not,
therefore, let strange fantasies disturb you, no matter what they concern. Hold
strongly to your resolution and keep a right intention toward God.
It is not an illusion that you are sometimes rapt in ecstasy and then quickly
returned to the usual follies of your heart. For these are evils which you
suffer rather than commit; and so long as they displease you and you struggle
against them, it is a matter of merit and not a loss.
You must know that the old enemy tries by all means in his power to hinder your
desire for good and to turn you from every devotional practice, especially from
the veneration of the saints, from devout meditation on My passion, and from
your firm purpose of advancing in virtue. He suggests many evil thoughts that he
may cause you weariness and horror, and thus draw you away from prayer and holy
reading. A humble confession displeases him and, if he could, he would make you
omit Holy Communion.
Do not believe him or heed him, even though he often sets traps to deceive you.
When he suggests evil, unclean things, accuse him. Say to him: "Away, unclean
spirit! Shame, miserable creature! You are but filth to bring such things to my
ears. Begone, most wretched seducer! You shall have no part in me, for Jesus
will be my strength, and you shall be confounded. I would rather die and suffer
all torments than consent to you. Be still! Be silent! Though you bring many
troubles upon me I will have none of you. The Lord is my light, my salvation.
Whom shall I fear? Though armies unite against me, my heart will not fear, for
the Lord is my Helper, my Redeemer."
Fight like a good soldier and if you sometimes fall through weakness, rise again
with greater strength than before, trusting in My most abundant grace. But
beware of vain complacency and pride. For many are led into error through these
faults and sometimes fall into almost perpetual blindness. Let the fall of
these, who proudly presume on self, be a warning to you and a constant incentive
to humility.
