All of us want to know and live love. We desire to have a life filled with love, overflowing with love, and never living a day without love. In The Imitation of Christ the author writes about the wonderful effect of the love of God.

Love is a strong force - a great good in every way; it alone can make our burdens light, and it alone bears in equal balance what is pleasing and displeasing. It carries a burden and does not feel it; it makes all that is bitter taste sweet...

The noble love of Jesus urges us to do great things and spurs us on to desire perfection. Love tends upward to God and is not occupied with the things of earth...

Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing higher, nothing stronger, nothing larger, nothing more joyful, nothing fuller, nothing better in heaven or on earth; for love is born of God and can find its rest only in God above all He has created...

Such lovers fly high, run swiftly and rejoice. Their souls are free; they give all for all and all in all. For they rest in One Supreme Goodness above all things, from Whom all other good flows and proceeds. They look not only at the gifts, but at the Giver, Who is above all gifts...

Love is ever watchful; it rests, but does not sleep; though weary, it is not tired; restricted, yet not hindered. Although it has reason to fear, it is not dismayed...

Love is swift, sincere, pious, joyful, and glad; it is strong, patient, faithful, wise, forbearing, courageous, and is never self-seeking; for when people seek themselves, they cease to love...

Love is cautious, humble, and upright; not weak, not flighty, nor concerned with trifles. It is sober, chaste, firm, quiet, and keeps guard over the senses...

Love is submissive and obedient to authority, mean and despicable in its own sight, devout and thankful to God. Love always trusts and hopes in God, even when it lacks fervor; for there is no living in love without some sorrow or pain...

Those who are not always ready to suffer and to stand disposed to the will of their Beloved are not worthy to be called lovers; for lovers must gladly embrace all hardship and bitter things for their Beloved, and never allow themselves to turn away from Him by adversity (Book 3, chapter 5).

The Imitation of Christ is a classic work on the spiritual life. It has survived through the centuries because it speaks truth to the heart. It behooves us all to be familiar with the classics on the spiritual life. While there are many fine modern works, the classics bring a "roundness" to this life. To read only the classics or only the modern would be a mistake.

The Church is constantly growing but remains rooted. We do have to adjust our reading style a bit for the classics. They are works of their time and must be read that way. That does not take away from their importance to our lives. The test of time adds to their importance.