Thomas a Kempis

Meditations on the Life of Christ Thomas a Kempis

Publisher Marketing: THE full title of this work is, "De Vita et Beneficiis Jesu Christi Salvatoris Nostri Meditationes et Orationes." In the table of contents for the thjrd vohune of Sommalius's "Opera Omnia" of Thomas it Kempis it is simply spoken of as "De Vita Christi Meditationes"; and so at the headings of the pages on the one side we have "De Vita Christi," and on the other, "Meditationes'' It is found in the second edition of the above work. It occupies rather nlore than a hlmdred pages with an index at the end; and is placed at the beginning of the third volume, double columns, small type. It does not appear in the first edition, and, after its appearance in t.his second edition, it. disappears altogether, in a strange and most unaccountable manner, without any explanation, in all future editions. This has tended in no small degree to discredit the work. To this subject some reference will shortly be made. But the first and principal question that will be asked is, How do we kno w that this "De Vita" was written by Thomas it Kempis. That other evidence, besides its appearance in this edition, is there that he was the author of it? It is important to give an answer on this point before we proceed further, because it may be said, "Its appearance in only this one edition is slight ground to build upon, and unless you have some more satisfactory and decisive 'proof to produce, you are not justified in so deliberately speaking of the 'De Vita Christi Meditationes' as the work of Thomas a Kempis."