The Death of Marcus Aurelius

The Death of Marcus Aurelius

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 3.16


That true solace is to be sought in God alone

1. Whatsoever I am able to desire or to think of for my solace, I look for it not here, but hereafter. For if I alone had all the solaces of this world, and were able to enjoy all its delights, it is certain that they could not endure long. Wherefore, O my soul, you cannot be fully comforted and perfectly refreshed, only in God, the Comforter of the poor, and the lifter up of the humble. Wait but a little while, my soul, wait for the Divine promise, and you shall have abundance of all good things in Heaven. If you long too inordinately for the things which are now, you shall lose those which are eternal and heavenly. Let temporal things be in the use, eternal things in the desire. You cannot be satisfied with any temporal good, for you were not created for the enjoyment of these.

2. Although you might have all the good things that ever were created, yet you could not be happy and blessed; all your blessedness and your felicity lie in God who created all things; not such felicity as seems good to the foolish lover of the world, but such as Christ's good and faithful servants wait for, and as the spiritual and pure in heart sometimes taste, whose conversation is in Heaven. All human solace is empty and short-lived; blessed and true is that solace which is felt inwardly, springing from the truth. The godly man everywhere bears about with him his own Comforter, Jesus, and says unto Him: "Be with me, Lord Jesus, always and everywhere. Let it be my comfort to be able to give up cheerfully all human comfort. And if Your consolation fails me, let Your will and righteous approval are always with me for the highest comfort. For You will not always be chiding, neither will You keep Your anger forever."


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