Thomas à Kempis

Author profile

born

Kempen, Germany

died

July 16, 1471

gender

male

genre

Religion & Spirituality

influences

Geert Groote, Florentius Radewijns

About this author

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Thomas Hammerken (or Hammerlein -- both mean "little hammer") was born at Kempen (hence the "A Kempis") in the duchy of Cleves in Germany around 1380. He was educated by a religious order called the Brethren of the Common Life, and in due course joined the order, was ordained a priest, became sub-prior of his house (in the low Countries), and died 25 July 1471 (his feast is observed a day early to avoid conflict with that of James bar-Zebedee the Apostle).

Thomas is known almost entirely for composing or compiling a manual of spiritual advice known as The Imitation of Christ, in which he urges the reader to seek to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to be conformed in all things to His will.

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Books by Thomas à Kempis

Average rating: 4.10 · 3,041 ratings · 219 reviews · 21 distinct works

	The Imitation of Christ 4.12 avg rating — 2,938 ratings — published 1426 — 290 editions	My rating:
	The Inner Life (Penguin Great Ideas, Series 1) 3.58 avg rating — 55 ratings — published 2004 — 2 editions	My rating:
	On the Passion of Christ: According to the Four Evangelists by Thomas à Kempis, Joseph N. Tylenda (Translator) 4.00 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2004	My rating:
	Imitation Of Mary 4.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 1995 — 4 editions	My rating:
	Counsels on the Spiritual Life by Thomas à Kempis, Leo Sherley-Price (Translation) 3.50 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 1994	My rating:
	Vera Sapentia or True Wisdom 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2003 — 5 editions	My rating:
	Meditations on the Life of Christ 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1982 — 22 editions	My rating:
	Consolation for My Soul: Thomas à Kempis by Thomas à Kempis, William Griffin (Translator) 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2003	My rating:
	The Imitation of Christ 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1983	My rating:
	The Chronicles of the Canons Regular of Mount St. Agnes 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2005 — 30 editions	My rating:

More books by Thomas à Kempis…

Quotes by Thomas à Kempis

“Be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.”
― Thomas à Kempis

tags: balance , control , inspirational , spiritual

49 people liked it

“If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance.”
― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

tags: acceptance , christ , christian , opinions

40 people liked it

“The more humble and obedient to God a man is, the more wise and at peace he will be in all that he does.”
― Thomas à Kempis, The Inner Life

tags: god , humility , peace , wisdom

22 people liked it

See all Thomas à Kempis's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

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The History Book ...: MY LIFE - BOOKS CLINTON READ	27	25	Oct 24, 2011 07:24am

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Thomas à Kempis

Author profile

combine editionsBooks by Thomas à Kempis

Quotes by Thomas à Kempis

Topics Mentioning This Author

combine editions
Books by Thomas à Kempis