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← The Imitation of Christ/Book 3 · On Inward Consolation
Chapter 18Imit.3.18

Quod temporales miseriæ Christi exemplo æquanimiter sunt ferendæ.

Christ's Patient Endurance as Our Example

Christ describes how He willingly took on human miseries out of love, enduring suffering, poverty, and public reproach throughout His earthly life.

Son, I came down from heaven for your salvation. I took your miseries upon myself—not out of necessity, but drawn by love—so that you might learn patience and bear the hardships of this life without resentment.✦ From the hour of my birth all the way to my death on the cross, I never lacked endurance in the face of suffering—but I did endure a great lack of earthly goods.✦✦ I frequently heard many complaints about me. I patiently endured public shame and reproach—blasphemy in return for my miracles, rebuke in return for my teaching.✦✦

A Prayer to Bear the Present Life Patiently

The disciple prays for patience in bearing the burdens of this life, recognizing that through Christ's grace and example suffering has become meritorious and more bearable than in ages past.

Lord, because you were patient throughout your life, fulfilling your Father's command above all else, it is only right that I, a wretched sinner, should bear myself patiently according to your will and carry the burden of this decaying life for my salvation, for as long as you yourself wish it. For even though the present life feels burdensome, it has now become, through your grace, deeply meritorious—and, through your example and the footsteps of your saints, more bearable for the weak and more glorious. And it is far more consoling than it once was in the Old Testament, when the gate of heaven remained closed, and the way seemed even more obscure, when so few cared to seek the kingdom of heaven. But not even those who were righteous then, and were to be saved, could enter the heavenly kingdom before your passion and the departure of your sacred death.

Thanksgiving for Christ as Our Way and Light

The disciple gives thanks for Christ as the pioneer of our path, laments humanity's lukewarm response, and acknowledges that without Christ's shining example and guiding light none would follow.

Oh, how much I owe you in thanks, because you have been pleased to show me and all the faithful the right and good way to your eternal kingdom.1 For your life is our way, and through holy patience we walk toward you, who are our crown. If you had not gone before us and taught us, who would care to follow? Alas, how many would fall far behind, unless they could look upon your shining examples! Look—we still grow lukewarm, even after hearing so many of your signs and teachings. What would become of us if we did not have so great a light to follow you by?

Read the original Latin

Fili, ego descendi de cælo pro tua salute; suscepi tuas miserias, non necessitate, sed charitate trahente ut patientiam disceres et temporales miserias non indignanter ferres. Nam ab hora ortus mei usque ad exitum in cruce non defuit mihi tolerantia doloris, at defectum rerum temporalium magnum habui. Multas querimonias de me frequenter audivi, confusiones et opprobria benigne sustinui, pro miraculis blasphemias, pro doctrina reprehensiones.

Domine, quia fuisti patiens in vita tua, in hoc maxime implendo præceptum Patris tui, dignum est ut ego misellus peccator secundum voluntatem tuam patienter me sustineam, et donec ipse volueris, onus corruptibilis vitæ pro salute mea portem. Nam etsi sentitur onerosa præsens vita, facta est tamen jam per gratiam tuam valde meritoria, atque exemplo tuo atque Sanctorum tuorum vestigiis infirmis tolerabilior, et clarior. Sed et multo magis consolatoria, quam olim in veteri Testamento fuerat, cum porta cæli clausa persisteret, et obscurior etiam via videbatur, quando tam pauci regnum cælorum quærere curabant. Sed neque qui tunc justi erant et salvandi ante passionem tuam et sacræ mortis obitum, cæleste regnum poterant introire.

O, quantas tibi gratias teneor referre, quia rectam et bonam viam dignatus es mihi et cunctis fidelibus ad æternum regnum ostendere tuum. Nam vita tua via nostra, et per sanctam patientiam ambulamus ad te, qui es corona nostra. Nisi tu nos præcessisses et docuisses, quis sequi curaret? Heu quanti longe retrocederent, nisi tua præclara exempla inspicerent. Ecce adhuc tepescimus auditis tot signis tuis et doctrinis. Quid fieret si tantum lumen ad sequendum te non haberemus?

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩John.3.13;John.6.38 — And no one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. John.6.38 — For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me.
  2. ↩Phil.2.7-Phil.2.8 — but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, and appearing as a human being. Phil.2.8 — And he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
  3. ↩2Cor.8.9 — For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
  4. ↩Matt.27.29-Matt.27.31;Mark.15.29-Mark.15.32 — And they twisted together a crown of thorns and placed it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' Matt.27.30 — And they spit on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. Matt.27.31 — And after they had mocked him, they stripped off the robe and put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him. Mark.15.29 — And those who passed by were hurling insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, 'Aha! You who would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days—' Mark.15.30 — Save yourself, and come down from the cross! Mark.15.31 — In the same way, the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, "He saved others; himself he cannot save." Mark.15.32 — Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe. And those who were crucified with him reviled him.
  5. ↩John.10.20;John.7.20 — But many of them said, "He has a demon, and he is raving mad. Why do you listen to him?" John.7.20 — The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?"

Notes

  1. 1 ↩gratias referre rendered as 'owe thanks' to capture the sense of obligation (teneor) rather than merely giving thanks.