Published in over 6,000 editions before the year 1900, The Imitation of Christ has been more widely read than any other book in human history except the Bible itself. It has been called “the most influential work in Christian literature,” “a landmark in the history of the human mind,” and “the fifth gospel.” Now, and for the first time, comes an exhaustive edition of this classic work, a work that is bound to become a classic in its own right. Fr. John-Julian introduces Kempis and his Imitation in ways that will shock many who have read the book before. For example, Protestant devotees to the book may be astounded to discover that Thomas was not only a Roman Catholic but an ardent traditionalist contemplative monk as well. And devoted Catholic readers may be amazed to discover that he was a radical moral reformer and part of a group twice formally charged with heresy. Notes and introductions to every aspect of The Imitation open the meaning of this classic to the next generation of readers. “If you have yet to drink deeply from the wisdom in these pages,  The Complete Imitation of Christ  removes any excuse for further procrastination. Thomas offers his readers the chance to probe the depths of their spirituality and reminds us that even our well-intentioned oblations remain stained with selfishness unless we constantly seek to root out our egocentrism and pursue the very heart of God. Make no mistake, this text was written for monks by a monk, but with a little help from Friar John-Julian, its challenges remain potent and relevant for everyone who will take the time to hear them.” — Brandon D. Waite, Englewood Review of Books   Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) was a monk at Mt. St. Agnes in the Netherlands. Thomas worked principally at copying and writing. A number of his treatises on the monastic life and little devotional essays have been translated into English including the great devotional work The Imitation of Christ (c.1427). Father John-Julian, OJN , is an Episcopal priest and monk. He has been an actor, a professor (University of Rhode Island and Hampshire College), a parish priest (Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Connecticut), a TV commentator, a camp director, a bookseller, the Dean of a seminary (Seminary of the Streets in New York), a contemplative monk, a director of Social Worker training (Social Service Institute in Connecticut), an organizational consultant, an author of fifteen books, a founder of a religious order (the contemplative, semi-enclosed monastic Order of Julian of Norwich in Wisconsin which incorporates both monks and nuns with equal status under the same traditional vows), a waiter, a human relations trainer, a carpenter, a founder of a theater, a psychotherapist, a spiritual director, a hermit, a builder of three churches, an anti-war activist, a member of NAACP—all of this perfect background for a contemplative! Fr. John-Julian has tasted virtually everything the world has to offer and, finally, has chosen to live a life directly contrary to all that, a life constituted of the silence and solitude of contemplative monasticism. He has studied Julian of Norwich each day for over a quarter century.  Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches Weight: 19 oz Page Count: 480 Publication Date: May 1, 2012 Product Code: 8106 Binding: Paperback