Prayers and Meditations

on the

Life of Christ

by

Thomas Haemerken À Kempis

canon regular of the order of st. augustine

translated from the text of the edition of michael joseph pohl, ph.d.

director of the royal gymnasium at kempen

by

W. Duthoit, D.C.L.

of exeter college, oxford; of the inner temple, barrister-at-law; late of h.m.’s bengal civil service

london

KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO., Ltd.

Dryden House, Gerrard Street, W.

1904

Contents

Introduction

Treatise I

part i

devout meditations on the life of our saviour jesus christ, and upon the benefits wrought by him for us, with thanksgiving therefor

Preface

I. Devout thanksgivings for the whole Life of Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and Man: and firstly a prayer arousing the soul to the praise of God

II. A Prayer concerning the creation of the first man, and his unhappy Fall

III. Of the reinstatement of man, and the promise of Christ’s coming

IV. Of the Redemption of the human race by the mystery of the Incarnate Word

V. Of the birth and poverty of the Lord Jesus

VI. Of the hardships and want of Jesus in His low estate

VII. Of the crying of the Infant Jesus

VIII. Of the suckling of the hungry Jesus

IX. Of the painful Circumcision of the Lord Jesus

X. Of the bestowal of the saving Name of Jesus

XI. Of the Epiphany of Jesus, and the devout oblation of the Holy Kings

XII. Of the Purification of Blessed Mary, and the Presentation of Jesus

XIII. Of the persecution of Jesus, and His flight into Egypt

XIV. Of the Holy Innocents, put to death by Herod for the Name of Jesus

XV. Of the Finding of Jesus in the Temple

XVI. Of the holy and hidden life of the lowly Jesus

XVII. Of the Baptism of Jesus, and our sanctification in its waters

XVIII. Of the fasting, and the temptations, of the all-unconquered Jesus

XIX. Of the holy preaching, and the saving Doctrine of Jesus

XX. Of the glorious miracles, and the kindness and goodness of Jesus

XXI. Of the Example, and the Holy Life of Jesus, and His tribulations in the world

XXII. Of the Feast of Palms, and the lowly entry of Jesus into Jerusalem

XXIII. Of the Lord’s Supper, in which, after partaking of the Paschal Lamb, Christ Jesus instituted the Sacrament of His Own Body and Blood

XXIV. Of the Washing of the feet, and the sacred discourse of Jesus, at the Supper

part ii

of the passion of christ, according to the four evangelists

I. Of the selling of Jesus by the perfidious traitor Judas

II. Of the sadness and dread which Jesus endured for our sakes

III. The thrice-repeated prayer, the prostration before the Father of the Lord Jesus, and the resignation by Him of His Own Will

IV. How the Lord Jesus went to meet His betrayer

V. The fell seizure and leading away of the Lord Jesus

VI. The forsaking of the Lord Jesus, and the flight of the Apostles

VII. The arraignment of the Lord Jesus before Annas, the Priest

VIII. Of Blessed Peter, the Apostle’s, thrice-repeated denial

IX. The leading away of the Lord Jesus from Annas ...