On the Passion of Christ: According to the Four Evangelists Prayers and Meditations

by Thomas, a Kempis; Tylenda, Joseph N.

• ISBN13: 9780898709933
• ISBN10: 0898709938
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-02-01
• Publisher: Ignatius Press

Summary

A perfect complement to the movie, The Passion of The Christ, this book presents reflections that will enable the reader to focus deeply on the true meaning of the Passion. In his famous spiritual classic, The Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis reminds the reader that in order to become a follower of Christ one must imitate his life, and to accomplish this he adds: "Let it then be our main concern to meditate on the life of Jesus Christ. It is impossible to imitate Christ without first knowing him, and the best way of getting to know him is by meditating on his life as it is described in the four Gospels."

Thus, in this wonderful meditation book, perfect for Lent, or any time of the year, the great spiritual writer and monk gives profound, short reflections on Gospel passages about the passion and death of Christ. Each chapter, focusing on a specific aspect of the Passion of Our Lord, gives a prayer, a meditation and spiritual advice and closes with another short prayer.

Very much in the same style as his The Imitation of Christ, this book covers the entire Passion, and makes great spiritual reading for anyone. Illustrated.

Author Biography

Thomas À Kempis (1379-1471) was born in Germany and schooled by the Order of Brothers and Sisters of the Common Life in Netherlands. He lived for seventy years among the Canons Regular of St. Augustine at Mount St. Agnes Monastery. Ordained a priest, he twice served as the community's subprior and copied books by hand, including the entire Bible. He is best known as the author of the spiritual classic The Imitation of Christ. 

Joseph Tylenda, S. J., theologian and historian, served as editor of Theological Studies magazine. He translated On the Passion of Christ by Thomas À Kempis and A Pilgrim's Journey: The Autobiography of St. Ignatius of Loyola, both published by Ignatius Press. 

Table of Contents

Introduction	9	(30)
1 On the sale of Jesus by the traitor Judas	17	(2)
2 On the sorrow and fear that Jesus experienced	19	(2)
3 On our Lord's triple prayer, his prostration before the Father and his resignation of will	21	(3)
4 On how the Lord Jesus went to meet his betrayer	24	(3)
5 On the shameful arrest and leading away of the Lord Jesus	27	(2)
6 On the desertion of our Lord and the flight of the apostles	29	(3)
7 On Jesus before Annas the high priest	32	(2)
8 On Saint Peter's triple denial	34	(3)
9 On Jesus taken from Annas to the priest Caiaphas	37	(2)
10 On the insults and mocking that our Lord suffered	39	(4)
11 On Christ being brought before Pilate	43	(3)
12 On Herod's deriding of our Lord Jesus	46	(2)
13 On the angry shouts Away with him! and Crucify him!	48	(4)
14 On the stripping of Jesus and his being bound to the pillar and scourged	52	(3)
15 The despoiling, mocking, crowning, and striking of Jesus' head	55	(8)
16 On the unjust condemnation of Jesus to death	63	(4)
17 On Jesus' carrying his Cross and being led to the place known as Calvary	67	(6)
18 On the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus and his hanging naked, high, and long on the Cross	73	(6)
19 On Jesus' wounds and the shedding of his precious blood	79	(3)
20 On Jesus' prayer for his enemies	82	(4)
21 On the disrobing and dividing of Christ's garments	86	(5)
22 On the crowd's insults and Jesus' enduring perseverance on the Cross	91	(5)
23 On the words spoken to the thief on the Cross	96	(5)
24 On the extraordinary inscription with the name of Jesus and placed above his head	101	(4)
25 On our Lord's compassion for his sorrowful Mother and his giving of the Blessed Mary and Saint John to each other	105	(6)
26 On the admirable virtues of the Blessed Virgin and on her sorrow and tears	111	(8)
27 The lone dereliction of the Lord Jesus on his Cross	119	(5)
28 On the thirst of the Lord Jesus as he hangs on the Cross	124	(3)
29 On fulfilling the Scriptures in the death of Christ and on the words It Is finished!	127	(5)
30 On the Lord Jesus' sorrowful departure from this world	132	(9)
31 On the pitiable appearance of Jesus after his soul left his body	141	(4)
32 On the piercing of the sacred side of the Lord Jesus after his death	145	(6)
33 On the taking down of the Lord Jesus from the Cross	151	(3)
34 prayers to members of Christ's body	154	(4)
35 On the reverent burial of the Lord Jesus	158	(5)
Art Credits	163