What do you think?
Rate this book
On the Passion of Christ According to the Four Evangelists: Prayers and Meditations
A perfect complement to the movie, The Passion of The Christ , this book presents reflections that will enable the reader to focus deeply on the true meaning of the Passion. In his famous spiritual classic, The Imitation of Christ , Thomas a Kempis reminds the reader that in order to become a follower of Christ one must imitate his life, and to accomplish this he adds: "Let it then be our main concern to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ. It is impossible to imitate Christ without first knowing him, and the best way of getting to know him is by meditating on his life as it is described in the four Gospels."
Thus, in this wonderful meditation book, perfect for Lent, or any time of the year, the great spiritual writer and monk gives profound, short reflections on Gospel passages about the passion and death of Christ. Each chapter, focusing on a specific aspect of the Passion of Our Lord, gives a prayer, a meditation and spiritual advice and closes with another short prayer.
Very much in the same style as his The Imitation of Christ , this book covers the entire Passion, and makes great spiritual reading for anyone. Illustrated.
Thus, in this wonderful meditation book, perfect for Lent, or any time of the year, the great spiritual writer and monk gives profound, short reflections on Gospel passages about the passion and death of Christ. Each chapter, focusing on a specific aspect of the Passion of Our Lord, gives a prayer, a meditation and spiritual advice and closes with another short prayer.
Very much in the same style as his The Imitation of Christ , this book covers the entire Passion, and makes great spiritual reading for anyone. Illustrated.
168 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2004
5 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Thomas à Kempis
727 books394 followersThomas Hammerken (or Hammerlein -- both mean "little hammer") / Thomas de Kempis / Thomas Hamerken von Kempen 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 1, 2023
A very good prayerful text for the lenten season, and for meditating upon our Lord's passion and death.
July 6, 2018
Definitely one of the best books ever written. This makes a good daily devotional for Lent or any time.
Divided into chapters, each having to do with an event from the passion & death of Christ. Very touching sentiments from an author who clearly had a very deep prayer life.
At the end there is a very beautiful series of prayers to the members of Christ's body so cruelly violated in the passion and death he underwent.
Like the Imitation of Christ this book should be on every shelf and read regularly.
Divided into chapters, each having to do with an event from the passion & death of Christ. Very touching sentiments from an author who clearly had a very deep prayer life.
At the end there is a very beautiful series of prayers to the members of Christ's body so cruelly violated in the passion and death he underwent.
Like the Imitation of Christ this book should be on every shelf and read regularly.
June 16, 2020
Beautiful and heartbreaking description of Christ's passion. Humbling. Helps see Mary and the Apostles' points of view at parts.
March 30, 2024
A great Lenten read!! 🫶🏼
April 10, 2023
I love the devotional style in which this book is written. Every aspect of Christ's passion is covered, and you will have a renewed appreciation for all He did for us. The chapters are short enough to use as a daily meditation during Lent. Highly recommended!
April 21, 2010
He was a Monk and he leans towards the Catholic doctrine in his writing.
March 8, 2011
2 pages samples of private intimate talks to our Lord.....teaches me how to talk.....i just does not know how to talk to Him
Read
February 20, 2016classic
April 22, 2025
The author was a monk in late medieval times, best known for his work, "The Imitation of Christ". The book under review is a translation from Latin of the major portion of another of his works meditating on the life of Christ. This book translates the part dealing with Christ's passion and crucifixion. Its 35 chapters consist of a series of meditations on each event from the Last Supper and His betrayal by Judas Iscariot, His trial before the priests and Pilate, His scourging and crucifixion and death through Christ's burial in the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. There are meditations on His Mother Mary and the other women who followed him to Calvary, and His entrusting His disciple John with the care of His mother. Near the end is a chapter of prayers to each part of Christ's body. The author emphasizes throughout the whole book how Jesus suffered for our sins and how He reconciles sinful humanity to God. The book is an excellent devotional read, especially during Lent and Holy Week leading up to Easter, and I highly recommend it.
April 21, 2025
I read the Malayalam translation of the book. The book is divided into 35 chapters with each chapters focusing on an incident during passion of Christ and meditation on it. One of the chapter, 34, is prayers to different body parts of Jesus.
It's an outstanding reading experience especially during Lenten days in preparation for Good Friday and Easter. Thought it's about the last few days before Easter, it might more benefit ital if we read a chapter per day so start reading from beginning of Lent.
It's an outstanding reading experience especially during Lenten days in preparation for Good Friday and Easter. Thought it's about the last few days before Easter, it might more benefit ital if we read a chapter per day so start reading from beginning of Lent.
September 27, 2025
It's a series of meditations on the Passion of Christ. I could see it being a good book for Lent. It's not meant to be read straight through, so you could start the day with a chapter to put the Cross in front of you. Or read one at 3p before a DMC. Some of the messaging is obviously for those in the author's religious order, but it's certainly primarily applicable for all readers.
April 11, 2020
A masterpiece of a meditation on the different aspects of the passion of Christ. It has helped me enormously to enter into this great mystery over Lent. It's particularly good for praying from but you can read it as spiritual reading too.
May 28, 2022
This book has great meditations about Christ's passion. The death and burial of the Risen Saviour. There are Catholic undertones regarding the teachings of theor dogma. If you can get past this then you can see the meditations are a blessing and salve yo your weary soul.
May 1, 2025
Great spiritual read. Read it over a short period of time, but would be better spaced out over a number of weeks. Good reader for all of Lent. Interesting to see the various reflections and spiritual disciplines from a Kempis's time.
April 13, 2023
Perfect book to read during Lent.
April 14, 2021
A beautiful read for Lent, and with 35 different meditations, one that you can use almost every day of the entire season.
"Since you had come among us to suffer, you chose not to use your divine power but to make known your benign patience." (p. 24)
"[T]each me to accept all criticism and reproof with a calm spirit...let a humble, calm, and constant mind be my invulnerable shield." (p. 33)
"Blessed are the tears that quickly wash away past sins and recover lost graces." (p. 35)
"[A]ccording to the rule submit your whole body to the discipline." (p. 53)
"[M]ay I imitate your virtuous silence." (p. 64)
"Teach me to conquer my will, to be satisfied with few things in life, and not to desire to journey outside the monastery." (p. 72)
"As the first Adam walked about naked in paradise prior to his fall, so in like manner naked you ascended your Cross to restore that lost paradise." (p. 73)
"It hardly becomes one who is dedicated to the Passion to break out into riotous laughter, and it is less in keeping with religious decorum to exhibit a lack of gravity in one's behavior." (p. 77)
"[F]ree my soul from all love for the things of this world." (p. 78)
"[W]rite your sweet and excellent name clearly and firmly on the tablet of my heart." (p. 104)
"[T]he Lord of all things, who has need of nothing, has been brought to such a measure of misery as to speak his needs into his Father's ears." (p. 120)
"Notice the gratitude that the world shows him in return for all of his extraordinary deeds and miracles." (p. 134)
"Learn to die before you actually die." (p. 137)
"When you come upon the graves of the dead, remember that you will soon be joining them." (p. 161)
"So lament during this time of grace, when the doors of mercy are open, and when God, in whom there is abundant redemption, accepts your repentance." (p. 162)
"Since you had come among us to suffer, you chose not to use your divine power but to make known your benign patience." (p. 24)
"[T]each me to accept all criticism and reproof with a calm spirit...let a humble, calm, and constant mind be my invulnerable shield." (p. 33)
"Blessed are the tears that quickly wash away past sins and recover lost graces." (p. 35)
"[A]ccording to the rule submit your whole body to the discipline." (p. 53)
"[M]ay I imitate your virtuous silence." (p. 64)
"Teach me to conquer my will, to be satisfied with few things in life, and not to desire to journey outside the monastery." (p. 72)
"As the first Adam walked about naked in paradise prior to his fall, so in like manner naked you ascended your Cross to restore that lost paradise." (p. 73)
"It hardly becomes one who is dedicated to the Passion to break out into riotous laughter, and it is less in keeping with religious decorum to exhibit a lack of gravity in one's behavior." (p. 77)
"[F]ree my soul from all love for the things of this world." (p. 78)
"[W]rite your sweet and excellent name clearly and firmly on the tablet of my heart." (p. 104)
"[T]he Lord of all things, who has need of nothing, has been brought to such a measure of misery as to speak his needs into his Father's ears." (p. 120)
"Notice the gratitude that the world shows him in return for all of his extraordinary deeds and miracles." (p. 134)
"Learn to die before you actually die." (p. 137)
"When you come upon the graves of the dead, remember that you will soon be joining them." (p. 161)
"So lament during this time of grace, when the doors of mercy are open, and when God, in whom there is abundant redemption, accepts your repentance." (p. 162)
August 12, 2014
This book has become standard reading for me during Lent.
November 22, 2017
Using the information from Mark, Matthew, Luke and John, Thomas a Kempis provides readings, meditations and prayers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews