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← The Imitation of Christ/Book 3 · On Inward Consolation
Chapter 1Imit.3.1

Incipit liber de interna consolatine.

The Blessedness of Inner Hearing

A series of beatitudes celebrating the soul that turns inward to hear God, closes itself to worldly distraction, and prepares daily for heavenly mysteries.

Let me hear what my Lord may speak in me.✦ Blessed is the soul that hears the Lord speaking within it and receives from his mouth the word of consolation. Blessed the ears that receive the channels of the divine whisper and pay no attention to the whisperings of this world.1 Truly blessed the ears that do not listen to the voice sounding outside, but inwardly attend to truth speaking and teaching. Blessed the eyes that are closed to outward things, but are intent on inward things. Blessed are those who penetrate inward things and, to receive the mysteries of heaven, strive more and more through daily practice to prepare themselves. Blessed are those who long to be free for God and shake off every hindrance of the world.

The Beloved Speaks Within

The soul is exhorted to shut the doors of sensuality so that Christ the Beloved may speak His words of salvation, peace, and life within.

Pay attention to this, my soul, and shut the doors of your sensuality, so that you may hear what God your Lord speaks within you.✦ These are the words of your beloved.✦ I am your salvation, your peace, and your life.✦ Stay close to me, and you'll find peace.✦

Renouncing the Transitory for the Eternal

The soul is urged to abandon fleeting things, recognize the emptiness of creatures without the Creator, and surrender wholly to God in order to attain true blessedness.

Let go of everything that passes away, and seek what lasts forever.✦ What are all temporal things but deceptions? And what good are all creatures, if you've been abandoned by your Creator?✦ So then, having renounced all things, make yourself pleasing and faithful to your Creator, so that you may be able to lay hold of true blessedness.✦

Read the original Latin

Audiam quid loquatur in me Dominus meus. Beata anima quæ Dominum in se loquentem audit et de ore ejus verbum consolationis accipit. Beatæ aures quæ divini susurri venas suscipiunt et de mundi hujus susurrationibus nihil advertunt. Beatæ plane aures quæ non vocem foris sonantem, sed interius auscultant veritatem loquentem et docentem. Beati oculi qui exterioribus clausi sunt, interioribus autem intenti. Beati qui interna penetrant, et ad capienda arcana cælestia magis ac magis per quotidiana exercitia se student præparare. Beati qui Deo vacare gestiunt et ab omni impedimento sæculi se excutiunt.

Animadverte hoc, o anima mea, et claude sensualitatis tuæ ostia, ut possis audire quid loquatur Deus Dominus in te. Hæc dicit dilectus tuus. Salus tua ego sum, pax tua, et vita tua. Serva te apud me, et pacem invenies. Dimitte omnia transitoria, et quære æterna. Quid sunt omnia temporalia, nisi seductoria et quid juvant omnes creaturæ, si fueris a Creatore deserta? Omnibus ergo abdicatis Creatori tuo te redde placitam et fidelem, ut veram valeas apprehendere beatitudinem.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩1Kgs.3.9 — So give your servant a listening heart to judge your people, to discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge this heavy people of yours?
  2. ↩1Sam.3.9 — And Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls to you, then say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
  3. ↩Song.2.10 — My beloved answered and said to me, 'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come away.'
  4. ↩John.14.6;2Thess.3.16;Ps.27.1 — Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' 2Thess.3.16 — Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. Ps.27.1 — Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; whom shall I dread?
  5. ↩John.14.27;Matt.11.29 — Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Matt.11.29 — Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
  6. ↩Matt.6.19-Matt.6.20 — Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matt.6.20 — But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.
  7. ↩Rom.1.21-Rom.1.25 — For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Rom.1.22 — Claiming to be wise, they became fools, Rom.1.23 — and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image resembling corruptible man, birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things. Rom.1.24 — Therefore God gave them over, in the lusts of their hearts, to impurity, so that their bodies were dishonored among themselves. Rom.1.25 — who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
  8. ↩Matt.5.3-Matt.5.11 — Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt.5.4 — Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matt.5.5 — Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matt.5.6 — Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matt.5.7 — Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matt.5.8 — Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matt.5.9 — Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matt.5.10 — Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matt.5.11 — Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say every kind of evil against you falsely on my account.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩Vena is used metaphorically for interior channels or pathways through which divine communication flows; rendered as 'channels' to preserve the physiological metaphor without over-literalizing.