1675 - Foundation of Modern Mystical Piety
Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380 - 1471) was a German-Dutch monk, copyist, and writer belonging to the Catholic religious movement known as the Devotio Moderna (Modern Devotion). Born in Kempen, Germany, he joined the Augustinian monastery of Mount Saint Agnes near Zwolle, Netherlands. He remained there his entire life, dedicated to prayer, writing, and copying manuscripts. "The Imitation of Christ," his most famous work, is a devotional guide emphasizing inner spirituality, humility, and complete devotion to Jesus Christ. It's considered one of the most important Christian spiritual classics, second only to the Bible in popularity. Thomas à Kempis emphasized personal piety over external religious practices. He believed true faith was found in inwardly imitating the life of Christ, fostering love, and cultivating humility. Kempis' writings deeply influenced Christian spirituality. Though never formally canonized, his work on inner piety affects devotional practices to this day. Here’s a typical quote: “If you wish to understand and savor the things of God, strive to be unknown and counted as nothing. For to love to be unknown and little esteemed is the truest wisdom and most perfect knowledge of self."
Thomas à Kempis was a direct and profound influence on figures like Ignatius of Loyola, Francis de Sales, Blaise Pascal, and John Wesley. This is a book that has been changing people's lives and transforming their sense of the divine for more than seven hundred years. It is the very definition of a spiritual classic. This is a charming octavo volume that was, no doubt, lovingly carried and read daily by quite a few people in the three hundred fifty years it has existed.
1675. Thomas à Kempis - Dell' Imitatione Di Christo (The Imitation of Christ). Pariggi. Publisher: Stefano Loyon. Bound in full calf. Wear to all edges, bumped to corners and with loss to edges/spine. Binding worn and soiled, with worming to spine. Boards shaken. There is spotting and browning throughout, with staining to the block edge including to margins. There is worming in the last fifty leaves or so, affecting text. Remains of bookplate to pastedown and with a number of old library stamps in places. Lacking endpapers. Overall in good condition.
Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380 - 1471) was a German-Dutch monk, copyist, and writer belonging to the Catholic religious movement known as the Devotio Moderna (Modern Devotion). Born in Kempen, Germany, he joined the Augustinian monastery of Mount Saint Agnes near Zwolle, Netherlands. He remained there his entire life, dedicated to prayer, writing, and copying manuscripts. "The Imitation of Christ," his most famous work, is a devotional guide emphasizing inner spirituality, humility, and complete devotion to Jesus Christ. It's considered one of the most important Christian spiritual classics, second only to the Bible in popularity. Thomas à Kempis emphasized personal piety over external religious practices. He believed true faith was found in inwardly imitating the life of Christ, fostering love, and cultivating humility. Kempis' writings deeply influenced Christian spirituality. Though never formally canonized, his work on inner piety affects devotional practices to this day. Here’s a typical quote: “If you wish to understand and savor the things of God, strive to be unknown and counted as nothing. For to love to be unknown and little esteemed is the truest wisdom and most perfect knowledge of self."
Thomas à Kempis was a direct and profound influence on figures like Ignatius of Loyola, Francis de Sales, Blaise Pascal, and John Wesley. This is a book that has been changing people's lives and transforming their sense of the divine for more than seven hundred years. It is the very definition of a spiritual classic. This is a charming octavo volume that was, no doubt, lovingly carried and read daily by quite a few people in the three hundred fifty years it has existed.
1675. Thomas à Kempis - Dell' Imitatione Di Christo (The Imitation of Christ). Pariggi. Publisher: Stefano Loyon. Bound in full calf. Wear to all edges, bumped to corners and with loss to edges/spine. Binding worn and soiled, with worming to spine. Boards shaken. There is spotting and browning throughout, with staining to the block edge including to margins. There is worming in the last fifty leaves or so, affecting text. Remains of bookplate to pastedown and with a number of old library stamps in places. Lacking endpapers. Overall in good condition.
Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380 - 1471) was a German-Dutch monk, copyist, and writer belonging to the Catholic religious movement known as the Devotio Moderna (Modern Devotion). Born in Kempen, Germany, he joined the Augustinian monastery of Mount Saint Agnes near Zwolle, Netherlands. He remained there his entire life, dedicated to prayer, writing, and copying manuscripts. "The Imitation of Christ," his most famous work, is a devotional guide emphasizing inner spirituality, humility, and complete devotion to Jesus Christ. It's considered one of the most important Christian spiritual classics, second only to the Bible in popularity. Thomas à Kempis emphasized personal piety over external religious practices. He believed true faith was found in inwardly imitating the life of Christ, fostering love, and cultivating humility. Kempis' writings deeply influenced Christian spirituality. Though never formally canonized, his work on inner piety affects devotional practices to this day. Here’s a typical quote: “If you wish to understand and savor the things of God, strive to be unknown and counted as nothing. For to love to be unknown and little esteemed is the truest wisdom and most perfect knowledge of self."
Thomas à Kempis was a direct and profound influence on figures like Ignatius of Loyola, Francis de Sales, Blaise Pascal, and John Wesley. This is a book that has been changing people's lives and transforming their sense of the divine for more than seven hundred years. It is the very definition of a spiritual classic. This is a charming octavo volume that was, no doubt, lovingly carried and read daily by quite a few people in the three hundred fifty years it has existed.
1675. Thomas à Kempis - Dell' Imitatione Di Christo (The Imitation of Christ). Pariggi. Publisher: Stefano Loyon. Bound in full calf. Wear to all edges, bumped to corners and with loss to edges/spine. Binding worn and soiled, with worming to spine. Boards shaken. There is spotting and browning throughout, with staining to the block edge including to margins. There is worming in the last fifty leaves or so, affecting text. Remains of bookplate to pastedown and with a number of old library stamps in places. Lacking endpapers. Overall in good condition.