C urb your appetite and you will more easily curb every inclination of the flesh.

quote 3993  |   Thomas a Kempis Imitation of Christ. Page no 17 of pdf version from catholic encyclopedia site.

L ove is ... devout and thankful to God; trusting and always hoping in Him, and that even when he has but little devotion or little savor in him, for without some sorrow or pain no man may live in love.

quote 3827  |   Thomas a Kempis History of Myticism, Abhayananda, 1998; pp. 294

H e who is thus a spiritual lover knows well what his voice means which says: "Thou, Lord God, art my whole love and my desire! Thou art all mine and I all Thine! Spread my heart into Thy love that I may know how sweet it is to serve Thee, and to be as though I were entirely melted into Thy love." 0 I am immersed in love and go far above myself for the great fervor that I feel of Thy unspeakable goodness! I shall sing to Thee the song of love; and my soul shall never be weary to praise Thee with the joyful song of love that I shall sing to Thee. I shall love Thee more than myself, and not myself but for Thee. And I shall love all others in Thee and for Thee, as the law of love commands which is given by Thee.

quote 3826  |   Thomas a Kempis History of Myticism, Abhayananda, 1998; pp. 294

T he noble love of God perfectly printed in man's soul makes a man to do great things and stirs him always to desire perfection and to grow more and more in grace and goodness. Love will always have his mind upward to God and will not be occupied with things of the world. Love will also be free from all worldly affections, that the inward sight of the soul may not be darkened of lost, and that his affection to heavenly things may not be diminished by an inordinate winning or losing of worldly things. Nothing, therefore, is sweeter than love, nothing higher, nothing stronger, nothing larger, nothing more joyful, nothing fuller, and nothing better in heaven nor in earth; for love descends from God and may not rest finally in anything lower than God.

quote 3825  |   Thomas a Kempis History of Myticism, Abhayananda, 1998; pp. 293

O my Lord God, most faithful lover, when Thou comest into my heart, all that is within me doth joy! Thou art my glory and the joy of my heart, my hope and my whole refuge in all my troubles. But -inasmuch as I am yet feeble in love and imperfect in virtue, therefore I have need to have more comfort and more help from Thee. Consent, therefore, oftentimes to visit me and to instruct me with Thy holy teachings. Deliver me from all evil passions and heal my sick heart from all earthly pleasure, that I may be inwardly healed and purged from all inordinate affections and vices, and be made ready and able to love Thee, strong to suffer for Thee, and stable to persevere in Thee.

quote 3824  |   Thomas a Kempis History of Myticism, Abhayananda, 1998; pp. 293

G rant me, Lord, special grace to rest in Thee above all creatures, above all health and fairness, above all glory and honor, above all dignity and power, above all wisdom and policy, above all riches and crafts, above all gladness of body and of soul, above all fame and praising, above all sweetness and consolation, above all hope and promise, above all merit and desire, above all gifts and rewards that Thou mayst give or send besides Thyself, and above all joy and mirth that man's heart or mind may feel. And also above all angels and all the company of heavenly spirits, above all things that are not Thyself. For Thou, Lord God, art most good, most high, most mighty, most sufficient and most full of goodness; most sweet, most comfortable, most fair, most loving, most noble, and most glorious above all things; in whom all goodness and perfection is, has been, and ever shall be. And therefore whatsoever Thou givest me besides Thyself, it is little and insufficient to me; for my heart may not rest nor fully be pacified so that it ascend above all gifts and above all manner of things that are created, unless in Thee : 0 my Lord, most loving spouse, most pure I-over and governor of every creature! Who shall give me wings of perfect liberty that I may fly high and rest in Thee! 0 when shall I gather myself together in Thee so perfectly that I shall -not, for Thy love, feel myself, but Thee alone, above myself and above all bodily things, and that Thou shalt visit me in such a way as Thou dost visit Thy faithful lovers? ...

quote 3823  |   Thomas a Kempis History of Myticism, Abhayananda, 1998; p. 292

W hy have many saints been so perfectly contemplative? Because they always studied to mortify themselves from worldly desires, that they might freely, with all the power of their heart, tend to our Lord.

quote 3822  |   Thomas a Kempis History of Myticism, Abhayananda, 1998; pp. 290

A ll that is in this world is vanity, but to love God and to serve only Him.

quote 3821  |   Thomas a Kempis History of Myticism, Abhayananda, 1998; pp. 290

S aid by God:) He who belittles the least of My saints does no honor to the greatest, for I have made both the less and the greater… They are all one, fast-bound and knit together… They feel all alike, and they will all alike, and they love all together in unity; and they love Me much more than themselves or their own merits. They are rapt above themselves and drawn from their own love and wholly turned to My love in which they rest in eternal fruition. There is nothing that can turn them away from My love or thrust them down out of their glory, for they are full of eternal truth and burn inwardly in their souls with the fire of everlasting charity that never will be quenched.

quote 3512  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, p. 196

O everlasting Light, far surpassing all created things, send down the beams of Your brightness from above, and purify, gladden, and illuminate in me all the inward corners of my heart.

quote 3511  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, pp. 155-156

W hoever, therefore, with a pure, simple heart lifts his intention up to God and empties out of himself all inordinate love or displeasure over any worldy thing will be the more ready to receive grace and will be the best worthy to have the gift of devotion. Where our Lord finds the vessel empty and void, there He gives His blessing, and the more perfectly a man can renounce himself and all the worldly things, and by despising himself can the more die to himself, so much the sooner will grace come and enter more plenteously into him and lift his heart higher unto God. Then his heart will see and be rich, and will marvel and be dilated within him, for the grace of our Lord is with him and he has completely put himself into His hand forever.

quote 3510  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, p. 231

B ut insomuch as there are but few who labor to die to themselves and to overcome themselves perfectly, they remain in their fleshly feelings and worldly comforts and can in no manner rise up in spirit above themselves.

quote 3509  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, pp. 185-186

A lmighty God wills that we be perfectly subject and obedient to Him, and that we rise high above our own will and our own reason by a great burning love and a complete desire for Him.

quote 3508  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, p. 48

L et your thought always be upward toward God, and direct your prayers continually to Christ.

quote 3507  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, p. 76

S aid by God:) Think all the world as nothing and prefer My service before all things, for you cannot have your mind fixed on Me and at the same time delight in transitory pleasure.

quote 3505  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, pp. 184-185

S hut fast the door of your soul -- that is to say your imagination -- and keep it cautiously, as much as you can, form beholding any earthly thing, and then lift up your mind to your Lord, Jesus; open your heart faithfully to Him…

quote 3504  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, p. 58

K eep yourself as a pilgrim and a stranger here in this world, as one to whom the world's business counts by little. Keep your heart free, and always lift it up to God.

quote 3503  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, p. 65

W e must set our axe deep to the root of the tree, so that, purged from all passion, we may have a quiet mind.

quote 3502  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, p. 43

T o desire nothing outwardly brings peace to a man's soul, so a man, by an inward forsaking of himself, joins himself to God.

quote 3501  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, pp. 191-192

I find myself nothing but naught and naught, O substance that cannot be weighed! O sea that cannot be sailed! In You and by You I find that my substance is nothing, and above all, nothing.

quote 3499  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, pp. 125-126

A humble knowledge of ourselves is a surer way to God than is the search for depth of learning.

quote 3498  |   Thomas a Kempis The Imitation of Christ. Trans. Richard Whitford, moderenized by Harold C. Gardiner. New York: Doubleday, 1955, p. 35

H e who is thus a spiritual lover knows well what that voice means which says: You, Lord God, are my whole love and desire. You are all mine, and I all Yours. Dissolve my heart into Your love so that I may know how sweet it is to serve You and how joyful it is to praise You, and to be as though I were all melded into Your love. 0h, I am urged on by love and go far above myself because of the great fervor I feel through Your unspeakable goodness. I shall sing to You the song of love; I shall follow You, my Beloved, in flights of thought wherever You go, and my soul will never be weary in praising You with the joyful songs of unconditional love.

quote 3092  |   Thomas a Kempis Whitford, Richard, trans. The Imitation of Christ, adapted by Harold C. Cardiner. New York: Doubleday and Co., 1955, pp. 109-111.

N othing is sweeter than love; nothing higher, nothing stronger, nothing larger, nothing more joyful, nothing fuller, nothing better in heaven or on earth; for love descends from God, and may not finally rest in anything lower than God. One with such love flies high; he runs swiftly, he is merry in God, he is free in soul. He gives all for all, and has all in all, for he rests in one high Goodness above all things, from whom all goodness flows …

quote 3091  |   Thomas a Kempis Whitford, Richard, trans. The Imitation of Christ, adapted by Harold C. Cardiner. New York: Doubleday and Co., 1955, pp. 109-111.