What do you think?
Rate this book
The Imitation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Recommended to us as even better than The Imitation of Christ, and we think it is! Written for everyone, and everyone should own it. In this book Jesus is speaking to the reader--through the author, of course--in short, easy-to-understand chapters that are filled with wisdom. Thereafter the student of the spiritual life--representing ourselves--speaks to Jesus. Renders a unique and powerful effect upon the soul! Impr. 734 pgs, PB
576 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 26, 2024
Like Thomas à Kempis The Imitation of Christ, this book engages in a back-and-forth dialogue between Jesus and a soul. It was easy for me to put myself in the role of the seeking soul because the questions and concerns nearly always expressed things I am grappling with, did at one time and/or may well again.
This is a surprisingly long book and sometimes seemed to go back over the same ground, but then would gently lead on to higher level. It is meant to be read at a slower pace than I did, but my aim at this first reading was a quick overview. I listened to it while I was exercising, seldom stopping to take notes or highlight. I plan to return to it when I complete Fr. Lawrence Daniel Carney III's reading list. It will make an excellent Adoration read. It is also a good balance to all the books on Our LORD's Holy Face, beautiful and important as they are, as this book assures us nothing surpasses the Love of His Sacred Heart.
Excellent and highly recommended!
This is a surprisingly long book and sometimes seemed to go back over the same ground, but then would gently lead on to higher level. It is meant to be read at a slower pace than I did, but my aim at this first reading was a quick overview. I listened to it while I was exercising, seldom stopping to take notes or highlight. I plan to return to it when I complete Fr. Lawrence Daniel Carney III's reading list. It will make an excellent Adoration read. It is also a good balance to all the books on Our LORD's Holy Face, beautiful and important as they are, as this book assures us nothing surpasses the Love of His Sacred Heart.
Excellent and highly recommended!
January 20, 2021
There is much praiseworthy in Father Arnoudt’s book. The prayers included in the appendix are top notch. I learned a couple of things that I didn’t know before. And reading this slowly gave me plenty of opportunities for mediation and reflection.
However, I don’t plan to ever read this a second time. And had I to do it over again, I would not have bought it, even from the $5 book bin.
One reason for this is because I am not a fan of the artistic use of “the Voice of Jesus.” If it doesn’t come from the vision of a holy person or a quote from Scripture, I don’t believe one should put words in our dear Lord’s Mouth. Especially since some of the words sound very contrary to how He sounded elsewhere (“Cheer up” is one example of a “quote” that seemed contrived to me).
Another reason I docked stars on this book is that I truly believe that Saint John of the Cross and other spiritual masters would read it and shake their heads. The admonition to follow Our Lord’s every inspiration sounds nice in theory, but without careful counsel and training in discernment of spirits, it’s pure recklessness to tell newbies to do whatever sounds like something that came from God.
The Imitation of the Sacred Heart also seemed a little spiritually immature. It seemed to imply that the more one advanced, the more blissful the spiritual life (admitting to occasional times of unavoidable dryness). That is the case in spiritual infancy and true in the transforming union. But between those two is the dark night of the senses and the dark night of the soul. Of course all this info would be too far off track to get into in this book. Just the implied connection of happiness and spiritual advancement could get a little tiring.
Finally, when I was near the end of this book, I learned that St. Margaret Mary’s spiritual director had also written about the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Allegedly Our Lord appeared to Fr. Croiset and said that only He could have written on the subject better. So not only is the Imitation of the Sacred Heart flawed, in my opinion, but there exists a far better alternative on the same topic.
However, I don’t plan to ever read this a second time. And had I to do it over again, I would not have bought it, even from the $5 book bin.
One reason for this is because I am not a fan of the artistic use of “the Voice of Jesus.” If it doesn’t come from the vision of a holy person or a quote from Scripture, I don’t believe one should put words in our dear Lord’s Mouth. Especially since some of the words sound very contrary to how He sounded elsewhere (“Cheer up” is one example of a “quote” that seemed contrived to me).
Another reason I docked stars on this book is that I truly believe that Saint John of the Cross and other spiritual masters would read it and shake their heads. The admonition to follow Our Lord’s every inspiration sounds nice in theory, but without careful counsel and training in discernment of spirits, it’s pure recklessness to tell newbies to do whatever sounds like something that came from God.
The Imitation of the Sacred Heart also seemed a little spiritually immature. It seemed to imply that the more one advanced, the more blissful the spiritual life (admitting to occasional times of unavoidable dryness). That is the case in spiritual infancy and true in the transforming union. But between those two is the dark night of the senses and the dark night of the soul. Of course all this info would be too far off track to get into in this book. Just the implied connection of happiness and spiritual advancement could get a little tiring.
Finally, when I was near the end of this book, I learned that St. Margaret Mary’s spiritual director had also written about the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Allegedly Our Lord appeared to Fr. Croiset and said that only He could have written on the subject better. So not only is the Imitation of the Sacred Heart flawed, in my opinion, but there exists a far better alternative on the same topic.
April 13, 2020
Excellent Spiritual book
Wonderful book helping us to understand better the awesome God who created all things. The last sections on the Eucharist teach us the incredible gift and how we can grow in Christ through proper reverence and reception.
Wonderful book helping us to understand better the awesome God who created all things. The last sections on the Eucharist teach us the incredible gift and how we can grow in Christ through proper reverence and reception.
September 5, 2024
3.8 stars.
July 27, 2019
An absolutely incredible treasure. Full of wonderful meditations on the Sacred Heart. It will not be leaving my queue for a long time.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews