Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 3.10

That it is sweet to despise the world and to serve God

1. Now will I speak again, O my Lord, and hold not my peace; I will say in the ears of my God, my Lord, and my King, who is exalted above all, Oh how plentiful is Your goodness which You have laid up for them that fear You! But what are You to those who love You? What to those who serve You with their whole heart? Truly unspeakable is the sweetness of the contemplation of You, which You bestow upon those who love You. In this most of all You have showed me the sweetness of Your charity, that when I was not, You made me, and when I wandered far from You, You brought me back that I might serve You, and commanded me to love You. 

2. O Fountain of perpetual love, what shall I say concerning You? How shall I be unmindful of You, who did vouchsafe to remember me, even after I pined away and perished? You  have had mercy beyond all hope upon Your servant, and have showed Your grace and friendship beyond all deserving. What reward shall I render You for this Your grace? For it is not given unto all to renounce this world and its affairs, and to take up a religious life. For is it a great thing that I should serve You, whom every creature ought to serve? It ought not to seem a great thing to me to serve You; but rather this appears to me a great and wonderful thing, that You vouchsafe to receive as Your servant one so poor and unworthy, and to join him unto Your chosen servants.

3. Behold all things which I have are Yours, and with them I serve You. And yet verily it is You who serves me, rather than I You. Behold the heaven and the earth which You have created for the service of men; they are at Your bidding, and perform daily whatsoever You do command. Yea, and this is little; for You have even ordained the Angels for the service of man. But it surpasses even all these things, that You Yourself did vouchsafe to minister unto man, and did promise that You would give Yourself unto him.

4. What shall I render unto You for all these Your manifold mercies? O that I were able to serve You all the days of my life! O that even for one day I were enabled to do You service worthy of Yourself! For verily You are worthy of all service, all honor, and praise without end. Verily You are my God, and I am Your poor servant, who am bound to serve You with all my strength, nor ought I ever to grow weary of Your praise. This is my wish, this is my exceeding great desire, and whatsoever is lacking to me, vouchsafe You to supply.

5. It is great honor, great glory to serve You, and to despise all for Your sake. For they shall have great grace who of their own will shall submit themselves to Your most holy service. They who for Your love have cast away every carnal delight shall find the sweetest consolation of the Holy Ghost. They who enter the narrow way of life for Your Name's sake, and have put away all worldly cares, shall attain great liberty of spirit.

6. O grateful and delightsome service of God, whereby man is made truly free and holy! O sacred condition of the religious servant, which makes man equal to the Angels, well-pleasing unto God, terrible to evil spirits, and acceptable to all faithful ones! O service to be embraced and ever desired, in which the highest good is promised, and joy is gained which shall remain for evermore!