Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380 – 25 July 1471; German: Thomas von Kempen; Dutch: Thomas van Kempen) was a German-Dutch canon regular of the late medieval period and the author of The Imitation of Christ, one of the most popular and best known Christian devotional books.
In Christian theology, the Imitation of Christ is the practice of following the example of Jesus. In Eastern Christianity, the term Life in Christ is sometimes used for the same concept. The ideal of the Imitation of Christ has been an important element of both Christian ethics and spirituality.
Why is Thomas a Kempis not a saint?
« And the 13th-century Thomas a Kempis, the reputed author of the great devotional work The Imitation of Christ, was never made a saint because, it was said, when they dug up his body for the ossuary they found scratch marks on the lid of his coffin and concluded that he was not reconciled to his fate. »
Why is Thomas à Kempis not a saint?
« And the 13th-century Thomas a Kempis, the reputed author of the great devotional work The Imitation of Christ, was never made a saint because, it was said, when they dug up his body for the ossuary they found scratch marks on the lid of his coffin and concluded that he was not reconciled to his fate. »
When did Thomas a Kempis write the Imitation of Christ?
1420 and 1427
Was Thomas a Kempis Catholic?
The spiritual writer Thomas à Kempis (ca. 1380-1471) was a Roman Catholic monk in Holland whose « The Imitation of Christ » became a classic in religious literature. . 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.
Why is Thomas Kempis not a saint?
« And the 13th-century Thomas a Kempis, the reputed author of the great devotional work The Imitation of Christ, was never made a saint because, it was said, when they dug up his body for the ossuary they found scratch marks on the lid of his coffin and concluded that he was not reconciled to his fate. »
What did Thomas a Kempis write?
Thomas à Kempis (c. 1380 – 25 July 1471; German: Thomas von Kempen; Dutch: Thomas van Kempen) was a German-Dutch canon regular of the late medieval period and the author of The Imitation of Christ, one of the most popular and best known Christian devotional books.
Is Thomas a Kempis a Catholic saint?
Few people have received the title of “saint,” although there are more than 10,000 that the Catholic Church venerates. Even 15th-century famous spiritual writer German Thomas à Kempis didn’t make it through the process. His body was exhumed and examined during his case for sainthood.
What makes someone a saint?
The title « Saint » denotes a person who has been formally canonized, that is, officially and authoritatively declared a saint, by the Church as holder of the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and is therefore believed to be in Heaven by the grace of God.
Is the Imitation of Christ Catholic?
The Imitation of Christ is regarded as the most important devotional work in Catholic Christianity and is the most widely read devotional work next to the Bible.
When did Thomas a Kempis die?
July 25, 1471
Is beatification the same as sainthood?
“Beatification” is the step right before sainthood. . If you pass that test — as Pope John Paul II did — then you can be called “Venerable.” But you’re not beatified yet! For that level, the Church has to prove also either that you were martyred or that you caused a miracle after your death.
Where did Thomas a Kempis live?
His name means « Thomas of Kempen », Kempen being his home town. He was a member of the Modern Devotion, a spiritual movement during the late medieval period, and a follower of Geert Groote and Florens Radewyns, the founders of the Brethren of the Common Life.
When was the Imitation of Christ written?
1390 and 1440
What exactly is a saint?
A saint is a holy person. . In Christianity, the word « saint » refers to any person who is « in Christ », and in whom Christ dwells, whether in Heaven or in earth. Orthodox Christians and Catholics teach that all Christians in Heaven are saints, but some are worthy of more honor than others.
What does it mean to be called a saint?
In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness or likeness or closeness to God. However, the use of the term « saint » depends on the context and denomination.
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