To my grandchildren Leticia and Guilherme,

and to all the children in the world.

When my mother was a child like you and about to receive her First Communion,  grandmother Iris Fróes wrote The Imitation of Child Jesus based on “The Imitation of Christ”,  a beautiful book  written in Latin by the friar  Thomas à Kempis over 500 years ago. 

Grandma Iris wanted her daughter to know the meaning of this all-time best-seller, which for Catholics is considered the most important book after the New Testament.

I was very privileged to have read it early in my life.  It helped me to understand what Jesus expected of me, and the close friendship that I should develop with Him.  

I hope you will keep this book, given to you today, as your companion throughout your childhood and for many years to come, thus allowing its message help you to grow like a beautiful flower -a good and faithful Christian- in the garden of  Child Jesus.     

With love,

                      Thaïs Maria Lips