02-07-2021, 02:37 PM
HAVE A CLEAN FACE
MODEL YOUR DEATH UPON THAT OF JESUS CHRIST
Book "Sermons of the Cure Ars" (St. John Mary Vianney) by TAN Books - page 138-139
If we were required to die twice, we could jettison one death. But man dies once only, and upon his death depends his eternity. Where the tree falls, there shall it lie. If, at the hour of his death, someone is living in some bad habit, his poor soul will fall on the side of Hell. If, on the other hand, he is in the state of grace, it will take the road for heaven. Oh, happy road! ....
Generally speaking, one dies as one has lived. That is one of the great truths which Holy Scripture and the Fathers repeat in many different places. If you live as good Christians, you
will be sure to die as good Christians, but if you live badly, you will be sure to die a bad death. The prophet Isaias warns us that the impious man who thinks only of doing evil is in a woeful state, for he will be treated as he deserves. At death he will receive the reward for the work he has done. It is true, however, that sometimes, by a kind of miracle, one may begin badly and finish well, but that happens so rarely that, as St. Jerome puts it, death is generally the echo of life. You think that you will return then to God? No, you will perish in sin....
The Holy Ghost tells us that if we have a friend, we should do him some good before we die. Well, my dear brethren, could one have a better friend than one's soul? Let us do all the good for it that we can, for at the moment when we would like to do our souls good, we shall be ableto do no more! .... Life is short.
If you defer changing your ways until the hour of your death, you are blind, for you do not know either the time or the place where you will die, perhaps without any assistance. Who knows if you will not go this night, covered in your sins, before the tribunal of Jesus Christ? .... Yes, my dear brethren, as life is, so is death. Do not hope for a miracle, which God but rarely performs. You are living in sin; very well, you will die in sin....
If we desire to die a good death, we must lead a Christian life.
And the way for us to prepare for a good death is to model our deaths upon the death of Jesus Christ.
Can the life of the good Christian be anything other than that of a man nailed to the Cross with Jesus Christ?
Book "Sermons of the Cure of Ars" (St. John Mary Vianney) by TAN Books - page 138
I have told you that you should have neat and clean clothes. I do not mean expensive clothes,
but only ones which are not soiled or torn. That is to say, the clothes should be washed and
mended if one has no others. There are some who have nothing to change or who, through
laziness, do not do so; they do not change their linen, that is, their shirts. For those who have no
but only ones which are not soiled or torn. That is to say, the clothes should be washed and
mended if one has no others. There are some who have nothing to change or who, through
laziness, do not do so; they do not change their linen, that is, their shirts. For those who have no
other clothes, there is nothing wrong in that.
But those who have, do wrong, for it is lacking in respect to our Lord, Who wishes to come into
their hearts. Your hair should be combed and tidy and your face and hands clean. You should
their hearts. Your hair should be combed and tidy and your face and hands clean. You should
never come to the altar without stockings, good or bad.
One should not approve of those young people who, in going up to the altar, appear no
differently at that moment than at the time when they are going to a ball or a dance. I do not
know how they go to receive a God Who was humbled and despised by all, with such a parade
of vanity and style. Dear Lord, what a contradiction this is! ....differently at that moment than at the time when they are going to a ball or a dance. I do not
know how they go to receive a God Who was humbled and despised by all, with such a parade
MODEL YOUR DEATH UPON THAT OF JESUS CHRIST
Book "Sermons of the Cure Ars" (St. John Mary Vianney) by TAN Books - page 138-139
If we were required to die twice, we could jettison one death. But man dies once only, and upon his death depends his eternity. Where the tree falls, there shall it lie. If, at the hour of his death, someone is living in some bad habit, his poor soul will fall on the side of Hell. If, on the other hand, he is in the state of grace, it will take the road for heaven. Oh, happy road! ....
Generally speaking, one dies as one has lived. That is one of the great truths which Holy Scripture and the Fathers repeat in many different places. If you live as good Christians, you
will be sure to die as good Christians, but if you live badly, you will be sure to die a bad death. The prophet Isaias warns us that the impious man who thinks only of doing evil is in a woeful state, for he will be treated as he deserves. At death he will receive the reward for the work he has done. It is true, however, that sometimes, by a kind of miracle, one may begin badly and finish well, but that happens so rarely that, as St. Jerome puts it, death is generally the echo of life. You think that you will return then to God? No, you will perish in sin....
The Holy Ghost tells us that if we have a friend, we should do him some good before we die. Well, my dear brethren, could one have a better friend than one's soul? Let us do all the good for it that we can, for at the moment when we would like to do our souls good, we shall be ableto do no more! .... Life is short.
If you defer changing your ways until the hour of your death, you are blind, for you do not know either the time or the place where you will die, perhaps without any assistance. Who knows if you will not go this night, covered in your sins, before the tribunal of Jesus Christ? .... Yes, my dear brethren, as life is, so is death. Do not hope for a miracle, which God but rarely performs. You are living in sin; very well, you will die in sin....
If we desire to die a good death, we must lead a Christian life.
And the way for us to prepare for a good death is to model our deaths upon the death of Jesus Christ.
Can the life of the good Christian be anything other than that of a man nailed to the Cross with Jesus Christ?