Imitation of Christ

After the Bible, The Imitation of Christ is the all-time favorite book of Catholics throughout the world and during the more than 500 years since its first appearance.  And of all the many translations into English, none can equal for reverence and beauty this inspiring translation of Bishop Richard Challoner.  Fr. John Hardon, S.J. says of The Imitation "Its basic theme is that, since Jesus Christ is true God and true man, by imitating Christ as man, the Christian becomes more and more like Christ who is God."  The Imitation of Christ is a book that speaks to the soul of every true Christian, always reminding him of the shortness of time and the length of eternity, of the fleeting nature of all earthly joy as opposed to the eternity of happiness with God.  This book has been the guide of saints since it first appeared in 1418-it was, for example, the sole spiritual reading of St. Therese the Little Flower in her early youth, who loved it and knew it by heart.

...No serious Catholic can afford to ignore The Imitation of Christ, and the translation by the saintly Bishop Challoner is the classic rendering into English of this great work.