August 31

The Two Sentences

Preparation. - After meditating on the death of the sinner and on that of the just man, we shall consider the sentences awaiting each of them at the end of the world, first, that of the sinner, and secondly, that of the just man. We shall then resolve to live without ceasing in the presence of the supreme Judge, so as to become irreproachable in His sight, and to deserve one day the sentence of the elect: “Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess the kingdom” (Mat. 25. 34).

I. The Sinners’ Sentence Of Condemnation

What a despair will seize the reprobate, when the Judge of the living and of the dead will utter against them these formidable words: “Depart from Me, ye accursed” (Mat. 25. 41). Then they will realize beyond all doubt, that they are forever banished from the company of the elect. Being rejected by Him who is the source of all good, they have nothing more to hope. “He put on cursing like a garment; and it went in like water into his entrails and like oil in his bones” (Ps. 108. 18). “Depart from Me,” will the supreme Judge say to them; “depart from Me, the sole principle of happiness.” “But, Lord, whither shall we go?” “Into everlasting fire” (Mat. 25. 41), “into the fire containing all the evils of body and soul; into the fire, wherein are concentrated the most exquisite torments, the most numerous, uninterrupted and varied sufferings. I had created you for the delights of heaven, but your sins have excluded you therefrom; your sins are the sole cause of your damnation. Depart, then, from Me, ye accursed, into the fire that shall never be quenched.”

Scarcely shall that terrible sentence have been pronounced, when the ground will open and the immense abyss of hell will swallow up the reprobate, wherein kings, princes, nobles and the refined will be mingled with the dregs of mankind, and confounded with the most infamous criminals. Therein will be seen priests and religious, who have been untrue to their vows and duties, and also persons professedly pious. The neglect to mortify some passion, at first apparently faultless, led them to this misfortune without remedy.

O Jesus, be merciful unto me whilst it is yet time, for then it shall be too late. I will henceforth bewail my shortcomings and reform my conduct. Wherefore, deign, first, to give me the courage to shun such and such an occasion, such and such a danger, to root out of my heart that certain affection, that defect, which are the sources of my sloth in Thy service; secondly, help me to devote myself to mental prayer, patiently to bear my trials and to persevere in Thy love; and thirdly, cause the terrible sentence of the impenitent to resound unceasingly in my ears, and enable me to avoid it at any cost.

II. The Favorable Sentence Of The Just

How great will be the joy of the elect when they will hear this sweet invitation from the lips of Jesus Christ: “Come, ye blessed of My Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mat. 25. 34). “Come” from exile to your true country, from destitution to abundance, from sorrows to delights, from combats to victory, from labor to rest. O how greatly shall we then be rewarded for having practiced self-denial, interior recollection, silence and prayer for our sanctification.

“Come, ye blessed of My Father.” O delightful utterance of a God! And Jesus says this with truly divine kindness. He considers the just as His tenderly cherished brethren, and invites them not only to enter heaven, but to possess forever, as sovereigns, the kingdom wherein all beauty and grandeur are found. How glorious, then, to be proclaimed, in presence of the whole universe, worthy of heaven! Here below the judgements of men are frequently influenced by wealth and favor. With our Redeemer, merit alone acquired by holiness of life will have any weight. If, then, He calls the elect the “blessed of His Father,” it is because they caused God to reign in their hearts by governing their passions.

Therefore it is only by subduing our passions that we shall deserve the same reward. God cannot reign over a soul enslaved by its self-will and evil propensities. It behooves us, then, to conquer ourselves, as the saints did, and to lead a fervent life. If we cannot imitate their great austerities, let us at least patiently put up with a disagreeable word, a slight pain, a contradiction, a disappointment, a privation, in order to please Jesus Christ. Let us shake off our sloth, our indolence, so as to practice the virtues. We should refuse no sacrifice, when there is question of deserving the blissful sentence that will secure our eternal salvation.

O my Redeemer, unceasingly recall to my mind the punishments awaiting sinners and the rewards reserved for the just, so that, frightened by the former and encouraged by the latter, I may overcome myself and all temptations. Under Thy holy Mother’s protection I am resolved, first, often to recall the final judgment I shall have one day to undergo, and secondly, to perform all my actions in Thy sight and with the intention of appeasing and pleasing Thee.

Prayer to Jesus Crucified:

O Jesus, I acknowledge in Thy sacred Person, nailed to the gibbet of Calvary, the great God who has created and governs the universe. Thou wilt come one day on the clouds of heaven to judge the living and the dead. Thou wilt not then be the meek, helpless Lamb, but the formidable Lion of Juda. How shall I then be able to bear Thy irritated looks? How shall I hear without shuddering the terrible sentence of the reprobate? Inspire me with confidence in Thy infinite mercy, and through the intercession of the Mother of sorrows, engrave Thy sacred wounds in my heart, and enable me daily to meditate on Thy Passion and the examples of virtue Thou givest me therein. Penetrate me especially with the most lively and sincere repentance until my last breath. Amen.