Première partie, chapitre XIV. Méditation VI. Du jugement
Preparation for Prayer
The soul is invited to place itself in the presence of God and ask for His inspiration.
Preparation 1. Place yourself before God. Put yourself before God. Ask Him to inspire you.
The Great Day of Judgment
A meditation on the end of the world, the resurrection, the appearance of the Judge, and the final separation of the righteous and the wicked.
Considerations Finally, after the time that God has marked for the duration of this world, and after a multitude of horrible signs and omens that will cause men to wither in fear and dread, fire will come like a flood, burning and reducing to ashes the entire face of the earth, so that none of the things we see upon it will be exempt. Finally, after the time that God has marked for the duration of this world, and after a multitude of horrible signs and omens that will cause men to wither in fear and dread, fire will come like a flood, burning and reducing to ashes the entire face of the earth, so that none of the things we see upon it will be exempt. After this flood of flames and thunder, all people will rise from the earth, except for those who have already risen, and they will stand before the archangel's voice in the valley of Josaphat. But alas! With what a difference! For some will be there in glorious and radiant bodies, while others will be in hideous and horrible bodies. The former will have glorious, shining bodies, and the latter will have hideous, dreadful ones. Think of the majesty with which the sovereign judge will appear, surrounded by all the angels and saints, his cross shining brighter than the sun—a sign of grace for the good and of severity for the wicked. Think of the majesty with which the sovereign judge will appear, surrounded by all the angels and saints, his cross shining brighter than the sun—a sign of grace for the good and of severity for the wicked. This sovereign Judge, by His fearsome command that will be executed suddenly, will separate the good from the wicked, placing the former on His right and the latter on His left; an eternal separation, after which these two groups will never be found together again. This sovereign Judge, by His fearsome command that will be executed suddenly, will separate the good from the wicked, placing the former on His right and the latter on His left; an eternal separation, after which these two groups will never be found together again. When the separation is made and the books of consciences are opened, the wicked will be clearly seen for their malice and the contempt they've shown toward God; and likewise, the penitence of the good and the effects of the grace of God they have received will be revealed, and nothing will be hidden. O God, what confusion for some, what consolation for others! O God, what confusion for some, what consolation for others! Think about the final judgment of the wicked: “Depart, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Consider these heavy words. He says, 'Depart': it’s a word of perpetual abandonment that God pronounces against such wretches, banishing them forever from His presence. He calls them 'cursed': O my soul, what a curse! A general curse that encompasses all evils; an irrevocable curse that includes all time and eternity. He adds, 'into the eternal fire': behold, O my heart, this great eternity. O eternal eternity of pains, how dreadful you are! 7. Consider the opposite sentence of the righteous: "Come!" The Judge says: ah, this is the pleasant word of salvation, by which God draws us to Himself and receives us into the embrace of His goodness; "blessed are you, my Father": oh, dear blessing, which encompasses every blessing! "Possess the kingdom that has been prepared for you since the foundation of the world." O God, what grace, for this kingdom will never end!
Affections and Resolutions
The soul responds to the meditation with fear, repentance, and a resolve to judge itself now to avoid condemnation later.
Affections and resolutions. 1. Tremble, my soul, at this memory. O God, who can assure me for this day, when the pillars of heaven will tremble in fear? 2. Hate your sins, for they alone can lead to your loss on this dreadful day. I want to judge myself now, so that I won't be judged; I want to examine my conscience, condemn myself, accuse myself, and correct myself, so that the judge won't condemn me on this dreadful day. Ah! Therefore, I will confess and accept the necessary advice, and so on.
Conclusion and Thanksgiving
The meditation concludes with thanksgiving, prayer, and the formation of a spiritual bouquet.
Conclusion 1. Thank God, who has given you the means to prepare for that day and the time to do penance. Thank God for giving you the means to secure your assurance for today and the time to do penance. Offer your heart to Him to do this well. 3. Pray that He grants you the grace to fulfill it well. Our Father, Hail Mary. Create a bouquet.
Read the original Latin
Préparation
1. Mettez-vous devant Dieu.
2. Suppliez-le qu’il vous inspire.
Considérations
1. Enfin, après le temps que Dieu a marqué pour la durée de ce monde, et après une quantité de signes et présages horribles pour lesquels les hommes sécheront d’effroi et de crainte, le feu venant comme un déluge brûlera et réduira en cendre toute la face de la terre, ains qu’aucune des choses que nous voyons sur icelle en soit exempte.
2. Après ce déluge de flammes et de foudres, tous les hommes ressusciteront de la terre, excepté ceux qui sont déjà ressuscités, et à la voix de l’archange comparaîtront à la vallée de Josaphat. Mais hélas ! avec quelle différence ! car les uns y seront en corps glorieux et resplendissants, et les autres en corps hideux et horribles.
3. Considérez la majesté avec laquelle le souverain juge comparaîtra, environné de tous les anges et saints, étant devant soi sa croix plus reluisante que le soleil, enseigne de grâce pour les bons, et de rigueur pour les mauvais.
4. Ce souverain Juge, par son commandement redoutable et qui sera soudain exécuté, séparera les bons de mauvais, mettant les uns à sa droite, les autres à sa gauche ; séparation éternelle, et après laquelle jamais plus ces deux bandes ne se trouveront ensemble.
5. La séparation faite et les livres des consciences ouverts, on verra clairement la malice des mauvais et le mépris dont ils ont usé contre Dieu ; et d’ailleurs, la pénitence des bons et les effets de la grâce de Dieu qu’ils ont reçue, et rien ne sera caché. O Dieu, quelle confusion pour les uns, quelle consolation pour les autres !
6. Considérez la dernière sentence des mauvais : « Allez, maudits, au feu éternel qui est préparé au diable et à ses compagnons ». Pesez ces paroles pesantes. « Allez », dit-il : c’est un mot d’abandonnement perpétuel que Dieu fait de tels malheureux, les bannissant pour jamais de sa face. Il les appelle « maudits » : o mon âme, quelle malédiction ! malédiction générale, qui comprend tous les maux ; malédiction irrévocable, qui comprend tous les temps et l’éternité. Il ajoute, « au feu éternel » : regarde, o mon cœur, cette grande éternité. O éternelle éternité des peines, que tu es effroyable !
7. Considérez la sentence contraire des bons : « Venez ! dit le Juge ; ah, c’est le mot agréable de salut, par lequel Dieu nous tire à soi et nous reçoit dans le giron de sa bonté ; « bénis de mon Père » : o chère bénédiction, qui comprend toute bénédiction ! « possédez le royaume qui vous est préparé dès la constitution du monde ». O Dieu, quelle grâce, car ce royaume n’aura jamais fin !
Affections et résolutions
1. Tremble, o mon âme, à ce souvenir. O Dieu, qui me peut assurer pour cette journée, en laquelle les colonnes du ciel trembleront de frayeur ?
2. Détestez vos péchés, qui seuls vous peuvent perdre en cette journée épouvantable.
3. Ah ! je me veux juger moi-même maintenant, afin que je ne sois pas jugée ; je veux examiner ma conscience et me condamner, m’accuser et me corriger, afin que le juge ne me condamne en ce jour redoutable : je me confesserai donc, j’accepterai les avis nécessaires, etc.
Conclusion
1. Remerciez Dieu qui vous a donné moyen de vous assurer pour ce jour-là, et le temps de faire pénitence.
2. Offrez-lui votre cœur pour la faire.
3. Priez-le qu’il vous fasse la grâce de vous en bien acquitter.
Pater noster, Ave.
Faites un bouquet.
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