Published in over 6,000 editions before the year 1900, "The Imitation of Christ" has been more widely read than any other book in human history except the Bible itself. It has been called "the most influential work in Christian literature," "a landmark in the history of the human mind," and "the fifth gospel."Now, and for the first time, comes an exhaustive edition of this classic work, a work that is bound to become a classic in its own right. Fr. John-Julian introduces Kempis and his "Imitation" in ways that will shock many who have read the book before. For example, Protestant devotees to the book may be astounded to discover that Thomas was not only a Roman Catholic but an ardent traditionalist contemplative monk as well. And devoted Catholic readers may be amazed to discover that he was a radical moral reformer and part of a group twice formally charged with heresy. Notes and introductions to every aspect of "The Imitation" open the meaning of this classic to the next generation of readers.

The Christian mystical tradition has its roots in Holy Scripture but was enunciated most clearly by the late 5th century author writing under the name Dionysius the Areopagite. It was acquaintance with the medieval version of that work which inspired the anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing and led him to develop his insights and perceptions of the obscurity and "unknowability" of God. His understanding was that God was on an entirely different plane of existence from human beings-indeed, so different that time-bound human language was inadequate to describe God exhaustively or accurately. Intellect and emotion both fail in seeking God, who can only be encountered by rejecting of all common earthly means in a "cloud of forgetting" and the discovery of Godself in the dark "cloud of unknowing" which can be pierced only with a "lance of longing love."

De Sales' classic has been described as "a masterpiece of psychology, practical morality, and common sense" and, after The Bible and" The Imitation of "Christ, is the widest read spiritual book of all time. Unlike many others, "Devout Life" was written specifically for lay persons and it demonstrates a rare sensitivity to the demands of life in a world that is often antagonistic to spirituality. In this first-of-its-kind edition, Fr. John-Julian offers a fresh translation, a most thorough historical introduction, and notes explaining points of language and theology along the way.

What is a saint?
A saint is a person who has become perfectly human.
A saint is a person who has discovered reality and chosen to live by that.
A saint is a person who subsists on a personal set of moral priorities.
A saint is a person who denies the lies of the world and believes God.
Stars in a Dark World tells the stories of people who have been recognized as having lived these qualities in their own lives and are acknowledged by their fellow Christians as holy people.
Stars in a Dark World also tells the stories that lie behind most popular Christian liturgical celebrations.

Revelations of Divine Love, the first book ever written in English by a woman, is dense, deeply intuitive, and theologically complex. The last thirty years have seen several translations, some academic, others literal, but none quite like this one which capture's Julian's deepest meanings and liberates her inspired insights. "This elegant translation of a wonderful spiritual classic makes Julian of Norwich beautifully accessible to the modern reader. And that is almost the pearl without price." -Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The most engaging and complete collection available of this 14th century English mystic
The Revelations of Julian of Norwich is the first book written in English by a woman - in this case, by a 14th century recluse who recounts the poignant, subtle, and radical insights granted to her in sixteen visions of the crucified Christ as she lay on what was believed to be her deathbed. Julian's miraculous recovery from that illness then led to twenty more years of reflection and contemplation on those revelations and finally to her writing a detailed account of her mystical experience.
Her work - in the same Middle English as her contemporary Geoffrey Chaucer - is dense, deeply intuitive, and theologically complex. The Complete Julian is the first book to offer a modern translation of all of Julian's writings (including her complete Revelations), a complete analysis of her work, as well as original historical, religious, and personal background material that helps the reader comprehend the depth and profundity of her life and work.
" Julian's Revelations] may well be the most important work of Christian reflection in the English language."
-- Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification: ++++ Jack Stock Of Kentucky; Rearing Of Mules; Brood Mares For Producing Mules; Experiments In Feeding Mules; Issue 176 Of Bulletin (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) John Julian Hooper, Walter Sewell Anderson Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station of the State University, 1913 Pets; Horses; General; Mules; Nature / Mammals; Pets / Horses / General

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification: ++++ Studies Of Dairy Cattle; Issue 234 Of Bulletin (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) John Julian Hooper Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Kentucky, 1921 Technology & Engineering; Agriculture; Animal Husbandry; Dairy cattle; Technology & Engineering / Agriculture / Animal Husbandry

In the year 1373 a young Englishwoman whose name we do not know 'she is called Julian" because she lived part of her life as an enclosed solitary in the church of St. Julian in Norwich 'experienced a series of intense Visions that she later recorded in two versions. The formal title of the "long text" of that book is "A Revelation of Love." It is commonly called "Showings, " the word Julian herself used to describe her Visions.

This edition incorporates the long text of the "Showings, " as translated by Father John-Julian, and a commentary written by Frederick S. Roden. A lay affiliate member of the Order of Julian of Norwich, Roden gives us a companion that is reflective yet learned. It is designed to draw the reader more fully into an understanding and experience of what Julian tells us she saw and heard. In the text and commentary we begin to comprehend the truth Julian summarizes at the end of the Showings: "Love was His meaning."

"Frederick S. Roden, PhD, AOJN, is associate professor of English at the University of Connecticut and an associate of the Episcopal Order of Julian of Norwich. He is the author and editor of scholarly books, articles, and reviews concerning religion, gender, and culture.

John-Julian, OJN, is an Episcopal priest who in 1985 founded the Order of Julian of Norwich, a contemplative monastic order of the Episcopal Church that includes both monks and nuns under the same traditional vows and with equal status. His translation "a lesson of Love: The Revelation of Julian of Norwich" was first published in 1989 with a second edition in 2003."