1) The document discusses the importance of sorrow, contrition, and avoiding empty pleasures in order to make spiritual progress. It states that sorrow opens the door to blessings while emptiness destroys them. 2) It advises focusing on self-improvement rather than the affairs of others. Even if lacking human favor or comforts, one should accept tribulations as deserved and seek the sorrow of heart needed to be perfectly contrite. 3) A good person will always find reasons to mourn, whether about themselves or neighbors, knowing that all experience suffering. The document urges humbly praying to God for the spirit of contrition.

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Sorrow of Heart
The Imitation of Christ
Book I – Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul
The Twenty-First Chapter
Sorrow of Heart
If you wish to make progress in virtue, live in the fear of the
Lord, do not look for too much freedom, discipline your
senses, and shun inane silliness.
• Sorrow opens the door to many a blessing which
dissoluteness usually destroys.
It is a wonder that any man who considers and
meditates on his exiled state and the many dangers to
his soul, can ever be perfectly happy in this life.
• Lighthearted and heedless of our defects, we do not feel
the real sorrows of our souls, but often indulge in empty
laughter when we have good reason to weep.
• No liberty is true and no joy is genuine unless it is
founded in the fear of the Lord and a good conscience.
Happy is the man who can throw off the weight of every
care and recollect himself in holy contrition.
• Happy is the man who casts from him all that can stain or
burden his conscience.
Fight like a man. Habit is overcome by habit. If you
leave men alone, they will leave you alone to do what
you have to do.
• Do not busy yourself about the affairs of others and do not
become entangled in the business of your superiors.

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Sorrow of Heart
The Imitation of Christ
Book I – Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul
The Twenty-First Chapter
• Keep an eye primarily on yourself and admonish yourself
instead of your friends.
If you do not enjoy the favor of men, do not let it sadden
you; but consider it a serious matter if you do not
conduct yourself as well or as carefully as is becoming
for a servant of God and a devout religious.
It is often better and safer for us to have few
consolations in this life, especially comforts of the
body.
• Yet if we do not have divine consolation or experience it
rarely, it is our own fault because we seek no sorrow of heart
and do not forsake vain outward satisfaction.
Consider yourself unworthy of divine solace and
deserving rather of much tribulation.
• When a man is perfectly contrite, the whole world is bitter
and wearisome to him.
A good man always finds enough over which to mourn
and weep; whether he thinks of himself or of his neighbor he
knows that no one lives here without suffering, and the
closer he examines himself the more he grieves.
The sins and vices in which we are so entangled that we can
rarely apply ourselves to the contemplation of heaven are
matters for just sorrow and inner remorse.
I do not doubt that you would correct yourself more earnestly
if you would think more of an early death than of a long life.

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Sorrow of Heart
The Imitation of Christ
Book I – Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul
The Twenty-First Chapter
• And if you pondered in your heart the future pains of hell
or of purgatory, I believe you would willingly endure
labor and trouble and would fear no hardship.
• But since these thoughts never pierce the heart and
since we are enamored of flattering pleasure, we
remain very cold and indifferent. Our wretched body
complains so easily because our soul is altogether too
lifeless.
Pray humbly to the Lord, therefore, that He may give
you the spirit of contrition and say with the Prophet:
“Feed me, Lord, with the bread of mourning and give
me to drink of tears in full measure.” (Psalms 79:6)
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[Inane: One that lacks sense or substance; senseless,
unimaginative, or empty; unintelligent; empty;
void; devoid of intelligence.
Silliness: Exhibiting a lack of wisdom or good sense;
foolish; Lacking seriousness or responsibleness;
frivolous.
Dissolute: Lacking moral restraint; indulging in sensual
pleasures or vices. Dissoluteness (n):
indiscipline with regard to sensuous pleasures.
Self-gratification; incontinence.
Exile: Enforced removal from one's native country.
Exiled (adjective).
Conscience: The inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's
conduct or motives, impelling one toward right
action; the complex of ethical and moral

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Sorrow of Heart
The Imitation of Christ
Book I – Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul
The Twenty-First Chapter
principles that controls or inhibits the actions or
thoughts of an individual.
Contrition: Sincere remorse for wrongdoing; repentance;
Christianity detestation of past sins and a
resolve to make amends, either from love of God
(perfect contrition) or from hope of heaven (
imperfect contrition); sorrow for sin arising from
fear of damnation.
Admonish: To reprove gently but earnestly; to counsel
(another) against something to be avoided;
caution; to urge to a duty or remind of an
obligation.
Solace: Comfort in sorrow, misfortune, or distress;
consolation; comfort in misery, disappointment,
etc.
Tribulation: Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering; an
experience that tests one's endurance, patience,
or faith; an annoying or frustrating or
catastrophic event.
Contrite: Feeling regret and sorrow for one's sins or
offenses; penitent; full of guilt or regret;
remorseful; (Theology) remorseful for past sin
and resolved to avoid future sin; feeling or
expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses.
Sin: (Theology) transgression of God's known will or
any principle or law regarded as embodying this;
the condition of estrangement from God arising
from such transgression.
Vice: An evil, degrading, or immoral practice or habit;
a serious moral failing; wicked or evil conduct or
habits; corruption; sexual immorality, especially
prostitution.
Remorse: Moral anguish arising from repentance for past
misdeeds; bitter regret; a sense of deep regret

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Sorrow of Heart
The Imitation of Christ
Book I – Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul
The Twenty-First Chapter
and guilt for some misdeed; compunction; pity;
compassion.
Purgatory: A place or condition of suffering, expiation, or
remorse.
Contemplation: Spiritual meditation - concentration of
the mind and soul upon God;
thoughtful or long consideration or
observation.
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