Thomas a kempis ''the imitations of christ''

[happyhorse]

i got this book and is very good.

thomas a kempis ( 1380 - 1471 )

was a theologian and was accidently buried alive.

he was therefore refused canonization by the church on the grounds that '' a saint would not fight death in this way''

but the problem i have with that is......christ taught us to deny the self and to die to the self but surely not to kill the self? what i mean is that if thomas where to lay there and accept death wouldnt this be a form of suicide? therefore taking away gods role as creator?

 

[GuardianAngle]

Consider that the Apostle Paul said that "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21) Paul knew that if his life were taken, it would only be more glorious to meet his Saviour in eternity. However, he says that to live is Christ! We have an ambassadorship (II Corinthians 5:20) in the world to the unsaved to be a witness and a light. The saint should not seek death, even if it means entering into God's holy presence. As saints, we have a mission to accomplish in our service to the Lord in our lives. So while the Christian need not fear death, he need not embrace it prematurely.

 

[happyhorse]

thank you very much for your reply.

 

[QuantaCura]

Where did you get the information concerning the reason for his lack of canonization? I had never heard that before.

The reason I always came across is that all he is really known for is that book, and until relatively recently his authorship of it was not ascertainable (there were a bunch of other possibilities as well) so he never developed any kind of "cultus."

 

[MarkEvan]

I have the book too, and yes it is a great read. Interestingly I find it ten times better than any recent book I`ve read.


Mark

 

[Molal]

I'll get the book and read it, thanks.

Accidentally buried alive - what a way to go.......

 

[happyhorse]

i got this information on him through google.
just type in his full name and you'll get it.

yes the reason they knew he fought death is because they found splinters underneath his fingernails.

isnt it just the bodys natural reaction to do something like this when buried alive? i dunno its mind boggling to say the least.

 

[petehears]

I'll get the book and read it, thanks.

Accidentally buried alive - what a way to go.......

my question, who's the sorry so-n-so that did it? and what was the convo like at HIS dinner table?
" how was your day, dear?"
"oh, fine.... ya know, regular stuff, really..... ummm.... OH! i buried a saint alive today!!"

i bet he caught plenty of it when he got home..lol