What is Imitation of Christ?
The Imitation of Christ refers both to a foundational Christian spiritual practice and to the most widely read Christian devotional book after the Bible. As a practice, imitatio Christi describes the discipline of patterning one’s interior life and outward actions after the example of Jesus Christ—seeking to embody his humility, compassion, self-denial, and surrender to God’s will. As a text, The Imitation of Christ (Latin: De Imitatione Christi) is a manual of spiritual instruction written by Thomas à Kempis between 1418 and 1427, offering concrete guidance for living a Christ-centered life.
Origins & Lineage
The doctrine of imitatio Christi was developed by Augustine of Hippo around 400 CE, rooted in the Apostle Paul’s declaration in Galatians 2:20 that “Christ lives in me.” The practice of consciously modeling one’s life on Jesus became central to Christian monasticism and mystical theology throughout the medieval period.
The book The Imitation of Christ was composed between 1418 and 1427 by Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471), a Dutch priest, monk, and writer born in Kempen, Germany. Thomas was a member of the Brothers of the Common Life and was ordained a priest in 1413. At age 19, he entered the monastery of Mount St. Agnes near Zwolle in the Netherlands, where he remained for the rest of his life.
The work represents the classic expression of the Devotio Moderna, or ‘modern devotion,’ a movement that responded to the widespread need for deepened spiritual life in the years before the Reformation, growing out of the Windesheim Congregation, a religious community of Augustinian Canons established in the Netherlands in 1387. The text is divided into four books of detailed spiritual instructions: “Helpful Counsels of the Spiritual Life,” “Directives for the Interior Life,” “On Interior Consolation,” and “On the Blessed Sacrament”.
The work was first published in print in Augsburg by Günther Zainer before June 5, 1473. It was printed 745 times before 1650. The Imitation of Christ has become, after the Bible, the most widely translated book in Christian literature.
How It’s Practiced
Practicing the imitation of Christ involves both contemplative interiority and practical application. The tradition emphasizes withdrawal from worldly distractions to cultivate what Thomas à Kempis calls the “interior life”—a state of ongoing dialogue with God characterized by humility, self-examination, and surrender.
Concretely, practitioners engage in daily meditation on the life and teachings of Jesus, particularly his Passion; regular examination of conscience to identify where their actions diverge from Christ’s example; cultivation of virtues such as patience, charity, and detachment from material concerns; and participation in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. The practice asks not “What would make me happy?” but “What would Christ do?”
Unlike activist interpretations of Christian discipleship, Thomas à Kempis’s approach emphasizes solitude, silence, and the renunciation of external achievement. Chapters bear titles like “Of the Inward Life” and “Of Lowliness of Mind,” reflecting a contemplative orientation. The goal is not merely behavioral conformity but inner transformation—allowing Christ to live through the believer.
Imitation of Christ Today
Modern seekers encounter the imitation of Christ primarily through reading Thomas à Kempis’s text, which remains in continuous print in dozens of English translations. John Wesley translated a version in the 1700s, and contemporary renderings balance historical fidelity with accessibility.
The practice is alive in Catholic monasteries, Protestant contemplative communities, and ecumenical retreat centers. Ignatian spirituality, Benedictine life, and the writings of 20th-century figures like Thomas Merton draw directly from the imitatio Christi tradition. Retreat programs often structure multi-day silent retreats around readings from the text, paired with lectio divina and guided meditation on Gospel passages.
Online courses and spiritual direction programs introduce laypeople to the practice, adapting monastic disciplines for contemporary life. The text is commonly assigned in seminary formation and novitiate training. Audio recordings and podcasts offer chapter-by-chapter reflections, making the work accessible to commuters and those with visual impairments.
Common Misconceptions
The imitation of Christ is not about external mimicry—wearing sandals, speaking Aramaic, or adopting first-century Palestinian customs. It is an interior discipline focused on aligning one’s will with God’s will as revealed through Jesus.
It is not self-help spirituality. Thomas à Kempis does not promise happiness, success, or empowerment. The text insists on self-denial, acceptance of suffering, and the renunciation of ego-driven ambition—themes that sit uncomfortably with contemporary therapeutic culture.
The practice is not limited to Catholics or monastics, though it originated in those contexts. Protestant reformers, Eastern Orthodox mystics, and Quaker contemplatives have all drawn from the imitatio Christi tradition, finding in it a Christ-centered corrective to institutional religion.
Finally, the imitation of Christ is not mere moralism. It assumes grace—that transformation happens not through human effort alone but through God’s action in response to human openness. The believer does not become Christ but allows Christ to become manifest through them.
How to Begin
Start by obtaining a readable translation of The Imitation of Christ. The William Creasy translation (Ave Maria Press) and the Hal Helms paraphrase offer contemporary accessibility; the E.M. Blaiklock rendering preserves the devotional cadence of the original.
Read one short chapter per day—the book contains 114 brief meditations—ideally in the morning before daily activities begin. Approach the text as a conversation with a spiritual elder, not as a theological treatise. Notice where the words create resistance or resonance.
Pair reading with simple contemplative practice: ten minutes of silence, breath prayer using the Jesus Prayer (“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”), or imaginative meditation on a Gospel scene. Keep a journal noting where you see the gap between Christ’s example and your habitual responses.
Consider joining a Christian contemplative community or finding a spiritual director familiar with the tradition. Organizations like the World Community for Christian Meditation, Contemplative Outreach, and Renovaré offer resources and gatherings for those exploring Christ-centered contemplative practice. If drawn to immersive experience, seek out a monastery offering short-term guest stays where the rhythm of prayer, silence, and manual labor embodies the imitatio Christi path.