Première partie, chapitre XV. Méditation VII. De l’enfer
Preparation for Meditation
The soul is invited to enter the presence of God and imagine the reality of the infernal abyss.
Preparation. 1. Place yourself in the presence of God. Humble yourselves and seek His assistance. You should ask for His help with a sincere heart. Imagine a dark city, all ablaze with sulfur and stinking pitch, filled with citizens who cannot escape. Imagine a dark city, all ablaze with sulfur and stinking pitch, filled with citizens who cannot escape.
The Torments of the Damned
A reflection on the sensory suffering, the loss of God's presence, and the unbearable weight of eternity.
Considerations The damned are in the infernal abyss, much like that unfortunate city, where they suffer indescribable torments in every sense and every limb. Because, just as they used all their senses and limbs to sin, so they will suffer in all their limbs and senses the penalties due to sin: their eyes, for their false and wicked gazes, will endure the horrible vision of devils and hell; their ears, for having taken pleasure in wicked speech, will hear nothing but weeping, lamentations, and despair; and so it goes for the others. 2. Beyond all these torments, there is an even greater one: the deprivation and loss of the glory of God, which they are forever barred from seeing. If Absalom found that being deprived of the sight of his father David’s face was more distressing than his exile, O God! What regret it is to be forever deprived of seeing your sweet and gentle face! Think especially about the eternity of these pains, which is the only thing that makes hell unbearable. Alas! If a flea in our ear or the heat of a minor fever makes a short night feel so long and tiresome, how dreadful will the night of eternity be with so many torments! From this eternity arise eternal despair, blasphemies, and infinite rages. Think especially about the eternity of these pains, which is the only thing that makes hell unbearable.
Affections and Resolutions
The soul responds to the meditation with repentance, a firm resolve to avoid sin, and a final prayer.
Affections and resolutions. 1. Terrify your soul with the words of Job: "O my soul, could you really live forever with these enduring passions and in this devouring fire?"✦ Do you really want to abandon your God forever? 2. Confess that you deserve it, but how many times! Now, from now on, I want to take the opposite path; why would I descend into this abyss? I will therefore make every effort to avoid sin, which alone can bring me eternal death. I will therefore make every effort to avoid sin, which alone can bring me eternal death. Give thanks, offer, and pray.
Read the original Latin
Préparation
1. Mettez-vous en la présence divine.
2. Humiliez-vous et demandez son assistance.
3. Imaginez-vous une ville ténébreuse, toute brûlante de soufre et de poix puante, pleine de citoyens qui n’en peuvent sortir.
Considérations
1. Les damnés sont dedans l’abîme infernal comme dedans cette ville infortunée, en laquelle ils souffrent des tourments indicibles en tous leurs sens et en tous leurs membres, parce que, comme ils ont employé tous leurs sens et leurs membres pour pécher, ainsi souffriront-ils en tous leurs membres et en tous leurs sens les peines dues au péché : les yeux, pour leurs faux et mauvais regards, souffriront l’horrible vision des diables et de l’enfer ; les oreilles, pour avoir pris plaisir aux discours vicieux, n’ouïront jamais que pleurs, lamentations et désespoirs ; et ainsi des autres.
2. Outre tous ces tourments, il y en a encore un plus grand, qui est la privation et perte de la gloire de Dieu laquelle ils sont forclos de jamais voir. Que si Absalon trouva que la privation de la face amiable de son père David était plus ennuyeuse que son exil, o Dieu ! que regret d’être à jamais privé de voir votre doux et suave visage !
3. Considérez surtout l’éternité de ces peines, laquelle seule rend l’enfer insupportable. Hélas ! si une puce en notre oreille, si la chaleur d’une petite fièvre nous rend une courte nuit si longue et ennuyeuse, combien sera épouvantable la nuit de l’éternité avec tant de tourments ! De cette éternité, naissent le désespoir éternel, les blasphèmes et rages infinies.
Affections et résolutions
1. Épouvantez votre âme par les paroles de Job : « O jmon âme, pourrais-tu bien « vivre éternellement avec ces ardeurs perdurables et emmi ce feu dévorant ? » Veux-tu bien quitter ton Dieu pour jamais ?
2. Confessez que vous l’avez mérité, mais combien de fois ! Or, désormais je veux prendre parti au chemin contraire ; pourquoi descendrais-je en cet abîme ?
3. Je ferai donc tel et tel effort pour éviter le péché, qui seul peut me donner cette mort éternelle.
Remerciez, offrez, priez.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Job.7.1 — Does not a human have a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired worker?
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