The Imitation of Christ, Chapter 52 summary
Chapter 52 of 115 · Book 3: On Inward Consolation · 2 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 52, the speaker confesses repeated sins, accepts that punishment is deserved, and asks the Lord for mercy rather than claiming a right to comfort. The prayer moves from shame toward hope, explaining that sincere repentance and humility restore grace and reconcile the troubled soul with God.
What happens
- The speaker accepts desolation as just punishment while praising God for giving comfort beyond anything deserved.
- The speaker admits a tendency toward sin and chooses honest self-accusation rather than denial.
- A plea for forgiveness leads into an account of how contrition and humility bring hope, reconciliation, and restored grace.
- The speaker compares repentance to a fragrant offering and describes it as shelter where evil is washed away.
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What does the speaker say brings hope of pardon?
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