Thomas a Kempis

Today the Church remembers Thomas a Kempis who was born in 1380 and died in 1471.  Thomas, whose family name was Hammercken (“little hammer”), was born in Kempen near Düsseldorf, Germany. He attended a school that was started by Gerard Groote, the founder of the Brothers of the Common Life. These were men devoted to prayer, simplicity, and union with God. Thomas of Kempen, as he was known at school, was so impressed by his teachers that he decided to live his own life according to their ideals. When he was 19 he entered the monastery of Mount St. Agnes.  He was ordained a priest and eventually became sub-prior.  Thomas spent the rest of his life behind the walls of that monastery.

 

Thomas is most known for his book on the spiritual life, 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.  Here is an excerpt from Chapter 4 of the book which is entitled “Prudence in Action”:

 

Do not yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God's will. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good. Perfect men, however, do not readily believe every talebearer, because they know that human frailty is prone to evil and is likely to appear in speech.

 

Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one's opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom.

 

Take counsel with a wise and conscientious man. Seek the advice of your betters in preference to following your own inclinations.

 

A good life makes a man wise according to God and gives him experience in many things, for the more humble he is and the more subject to God, the wiser and the more at peace he will be in all things.

 

Let us pray: Holy Father, who have nourished and strengthened your Church by the writings of your servant Thomas a Kempis: Grant that we may learn from him to know what we ought to know, to love what we ought to love, to praise what highly pleases you, and always to seek to know and follow your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

THANK YOU TO LEE RUNION WHO SPEARHEADED A FUN FILLED WEEK OF ART FOR CHILDREN.  THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED HIM MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A LIVING GLIMPSE OF GOD’S KINGDOM WHERE HEART, BODY AND MIND ARE FED.

 

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Shalea who is recovering from surgery, for Pat, Annette, Lee, Liz, Marilyn and Audry.

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550