Author Name:   Thomas A Kempis

Title:    Vera Sapientia or True Wisdom

St Athanasius Press has spent the last 2 years searching for these rare spiritual classics in order to bring them back into print so today's Catholics can benefit from the spiritual richness found in Thomas A Kempis' books. The first such book is Vera Sapientia or True Wisdom. Softcover. 220 pages. In English.

This unedited edition was translated from the Latin by the Right Rev Mgr Byrne D.D., V.G.and originally published exactly 100 years ago. Written in a similar style as the Imitation of Christ it is sure to become a widely read book in a generation that has all but lost its real sense of true wisdom and spirituality.

CONTENTS

Book 1

That Virtue Has to Carry on War with Vice

Chapters:

1 Three Different Modes of Human Life
2 The Severe Judgement of God
3 That we should be Sorry and Weep for our Sins
4 Lamentation over Time and Negligence
5 The Prayer of a Humble and Contrite Spirit
6 Compunction of Heart, or the Griefs and Sighs of a Penitent Soul
7 The Devout Prayer of a Sinner turning to God, and imploring Mercy
8 Watchfulness and Prayer are to be employed in Temptations
9 An encouragement to Spiritual Advancement
10 A Determined Fight is to be carried on against Vice, after the Example of the Saints
11 That Conscience is to be Guarded at all Times and in every Place
12 On Solitude and Silence
13 How the Faithful Mind is Affected by Various Temptations by which it is assailed or to which it is now Subject
14 The Preceding Subject is Continued
15 Confidence in Divine Mercy

Book II

What Things Can Be Truly And Justly Called Good And Bad

Chapters:

1 The Shortness and Miseries of the Present Life
2 The Preceding Subject Continued
3 Sighing for Eternal Life
4 The Eternal Praise of God, Divine Love, and Desire of Eternal Glory
5 Divine Hope
6 Christ in the Life of Him who has Died to the World
7 Withdrawing from Creatures
8 Contempt for all Earthly Consolation
9 That great Sweetness and Consolation are found in God
10 Seeking the Only and Best Good
11 True Peace is to be sought in God Alone
12 The Desire of Divine Enjoyment
13 The Sighing of a Soul on account of the Delay of Glory
14 The Remembrance of the Heavenly Country

Book III

The Miseries Which The Good Endure In This World

Chapters:

1 The Devout are Tried by Contrary Things
2 The Elect are Proved in Many Ways
3 God is to be Praised in the Absence of Devotion
4 The True Lover of God
5 The Soul should be Grateful for every gift
6 The Conformity of a Devout Soul with its Crucified Lord
7 God is the Helper adn Refuge of the Poor
8 Lazarus Poor and Infirm
9 The Union of the Soul with God in the Various Crises of Life
10 The Beloved giving the Reason of His Withdrawing
11 The Same Subject Continued
12 Praise of Religious Poverty
13 The Commendation of Poverty from the Example of Christ and His Saints
14 The Connection and Relationship of Poverty with Humility
15 The Consolation of Poverty
16 The Necessity of Patience in the midst of the Miseries of Life
17 The Consolation of the Afflicted and Sorrowful in Trouble
18 Patience is Recommended from the Words and Example of Christ and of the Patriarchs
19 Patience is to be principally Exercised in the Mortification of our own Wills
20 Patience is taught by the Example of the Prophets and Martyrs
21 Patience is Recommended from the Consideration of its Usefulness, of its Shortness, and of its Eternal Reward.
22 Divine Consolation in Suffering for Christ
23 The Consideration of the Most Pious Mother the Virgin Mary

BOOK IV

Of The Virtues Of A Truly Christian Man

Chapters:

1 On Stability
2 A Right Intention is to be Directed to God
3 Prudent Speech and Brotherly Compassion
4 The Great Merit of Patience for Christ
5 The Remembrance of the Passion of the Lord in Opposition to Dissipation
6 The Invocation of the Holy Name of Jesus and of the Blessed Virgin Mary His Mother
7 On Humility
8 The Conduct and Actions of the Truly Humble, and also the Qualities of the Proud
9 On the clear Intelligence of the Holy Scriptures
10 In Praise of the Holy Angels
11 The Prayer of the Devout Lover and Praiser of God
12 The Union of Heart to be Maintained with God
13 The Walking of a Pure Soul with God
14 On Peace of Heart and Rest in God
15 On the Recollection of the Heart with God
16 On Companionship with Jesus and His Saints
17 Our Complete Happiness and Last End are to be placed in God alone
18 The Approach to the Holy of Holies, Jesus Christ, the King of Angels
19 The Approach to Salute the Glorious Virgin
20 That Thanks are to be Given for all Benefits

An Example of Thomas A Kempis' writings from Book II, Chapter IV(1st 6 paragraphs)

The Eternal Praise of God, Divine Love, And Desire of Eternal Glory 1. 'O MY SOUL, praise the Lord,' from whom every good proceeds, now and for ever. You should therefore refer all things to Him, at the beginning and end of every action, and with great gratitude sincerely praise Him, that the gifts of heavenly grace may more abundantly flow into your soul, till you come to the fountain of everlasting life, to the country of eternal splendour, and to the sight of the Divine presence and glory.

2. You can do nothing more salutary, sweeter, more joyful, more worthy, higher, happier, more perfect, or more blessed, than to love and praise God ardently. This I say one hundred times; this I repeat one thousand times-there is no study more sublime, no work more eminent, than to love and praise God, your Creator and Redeemer, with your whole heart, with your whole soul, with your whole mind, and with your entire strength. Do this so long as you live, feel, and understand; accomplish this by word and work, by night and day, at morning, noon, and evening, at every hour and at every moment.

3. According to your knowledge and ability be entirely and purely united to God, that He may be all in all, before all, and above all; that He may be loved, blessed, praised and exalted by you, that you may be with Him forever. Exult, therefore, O faithful soul, in the Lord your God, as the Blessed Virgin Mary exulted in Jesus her Saviour. Exult and praise your God, who created and redeemed you. You are a debtor to Him for very many and great benefits, for the daily gifts He kindly gives you, for all which, though you were a holy angel, you cannot fully and worthily thank Him. Nevertheless, O mortal man, needing he mercy of God, and always seeking and imploring it, praise and give Him thanks. Cease not to pray and praise Him.

4. Though you may often fall and offend God, do not therefore despair; but humble yourself the more and pray. Love, and you shall be loved, because love makes amends for all past falls. It purifies, it heals, it enlightens and inflames, it drives away sadness, and it brings to the heart joy which the world does not know, and flesh and blood do not understand.

5. Praise God, and you shall be praised; bless, and you shall be blessed; sanctify, and you shall be sanctified; magnify, and you shall be magnified; glorify God, and you shall be glorified by Him in soul and body. But when will this be, O Lord? When wilt Thou fill my mouth with constant praise? When shall my heart and soul exult with Thy saints in glory?

6. O Lord, my Saviour, and my God, when wilt Thou make me joyful in Thy kingdom with the splendour of Thy countenance? Oh, when wilt Thou enlighten my darkness with the brightness of eternal light? When wilt Thou take away from the midst of my heart all my defects? When shall I enjoy true peace, complete blessedness, and perfect happiness? Oh, when without any hindrance from obstacles shall I securely and freely follow Thee, O Lord, whithersoever Thou goest?

Kempis, Vera Sapentia, True Wisdom, Catholic

Price = 19.99 USD