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Thomas A. Kempis

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Religious Figure

The Resume

    (circa 1380-July 25, 1471)
    Born in Kempen, Germany
    Birth name was Thomas Haemerken
    Catholic monk and mystic
    Wrote 'The Imitation of Christ' (circa 1418)
    Also wrote 'Sermons to Novices,' 'Sermons to Monks,' 'The Soul's Soliloquy,' 'The Life of the Good Monk' and 'A Manual of Doctrine for the Young'

Why he might be annoying:

    He briefly handled the monastery's finances until he was removed from the post for his absentmindedness and for being too 'simple in worldly affairs.'
    'The Imitation of Christ' was published anonymously and some scholars have challenged his authorship of it.
    He was reportedly denied canonization because when he was exhumed, scratch marks were found on the lid of his coffin, leading to the conclusion that he had been buried alive and failed to accept his fate with saint-like equanimity.

Why he might not be annoying:

    The 'he isn't a saint because he reacted badly to being buried alive' story is also told about John Duns Scotus, suggesting that either prematural burial was a major occupational hazard for medieval theologians or the same urban legend was attached to both figures.
    The vast majority of scholars concluded he wrote 'Imitation of Christ.'
    Thomas More said 'Imitation of Christ' was one of the three books everyone ought to own and John Wesley called it the best summary of the Christian life he had ever read.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 22.22% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 15 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying