Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ 3.27

That personal love greatly hinders from the highest good

1. "My Son, you must give all for all, and be nothing of your own. Know you that the love of yourself is more hurtful to you than anything in the world. According to the love and inclination which you have, everything more or less cleaves to you. If your love is pure, sincere, well-regulated, you will not be in captivity to anything. Do not covet what you may not have; do not have what is able to hinder you, and to rob you of inward liberty. It is strange that you commit not yourself to Me from the very bottom of your heart, with all things which you can desire or have.

2. "Why are you consumed with vain sorrow? Why are you wearied with superfluous cares? Stand by My good pleasure, and you shall suffer no loss. If you seek after this or that, and will be here or there, according to your own advantage or the fulfilling of your own pleasure, you shall never be in quiet, nor free from care, because in everything somewhat will be found lacking, and everywhere there will be somebody who opposes you.

3. "Therefore it is not gaining or multiplying of this thing or that which advantages you, but rather the despising it and cutting it by the root out of your heart; which you must not only understand of money and riches, but of the desire after honor and vain praise, things which all pass away with the world. The place avails little if the spirit of devotion is wanting; nor shall that peace stand long which is sought from abroad, if the state of your heart is without the true foundation, that is, if it abides not in Me. You may change, but you cannot better yourself; for when occasion arises and is accepted you shall find what you did fly from, and more."

A PRAYER FOR CLEANSING OF THE HEART AND FOR HEAVENLY WISDOM

4. Strengthen me, O God, by the grace of Your Holy Spirit. Give me virtue to be strengthened with might in the inner man, and to free my heart from all fruitless care and trouble, and that I be not drawn away by various desires after any things whatsoever, whether of little value or great, but that I may look upon all as passing away, and myself as passing away with them; because there is no profit under the sun, and all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Oh how wise is he that considers thus!

5. Give me, O Lord, heavenly wisdom, that I may learn to seek You above all things and to find You; to relish You above all things and to love You; and to understand all other things, even as they are, according to the order of Your wisdom. Grant me prudently to avoid the flatterer, and patiently to bear with him that opposes me; for this is great wisdom, not to be carried by every wind of words, nor to give ear to the wicked flattering Siren; for thus do we go safely on in the way we have begun.