Preces Quotidianae
The Terror of Judgment
The soul trembles before the terrifying judgment of God, where all secrets are revealed.
How terrifying your judgment is, Lord! When the thrones are set, the angels stand ready, human beings are brought in, the books are opened, works are examined, thoughts are searched out, and the hidden things of darkness are laid bare.✦✦ What kind of judgment will fall on me?
A Cry for Mercy
In desperation, the soul pleads for mercy and the gift of tears from the compassionate Lord.
Who will quench my flame? Who will light my darkness? Unless you have mercy on me. Lord, since you are the lover of humankind, give me tears—give me many, give them now.1
The Horrors of Hell
The prayer vividly depicts the eternal torments of hell, ending with unbreakable chains.
For then there is the incorruptible Judge, the dreadful tribunal, a defense without excuse, inevitable proofs, harsh punishment, everlasting Gehenna, ruthless angels, Hell opening wide its mouth, a hissing river of fire, the fire that is not quenched, a dark prison, darkness utterly shut out from light, couches of burning coals, the restless worm,✦✦✦2 Chains. unbreakable,
Read the original Latin
Quam tremendum est judicium tuum, Domine ! Positis Thronis, Adstantibus Angelis, Introductis hominibus, Apertis libris, Investigatis operibus, Indagatis cogitationibus, Manifestatis tenebrarum occultis. Quale judicium erit in me? Quis flammam meam restinguet ? Quis tenebras meas illustrabit ? Nisi Tu mei fueris misertus. Domine, sicut es hominum amans, Lacrymas da mihi, Da plurimas, da presentes. Tune enim Judex incorruptus, Tribunal horrendum, Defensio sime excusatione, Argumenta inevitabilia, Supplicium asperum, Gehenna sempiterna, Angel immites, Infernum dilatans os, Flumen ignis stridens, Ignis qui non extinguitur, Carcer tenebrosus, Tenebrze prorsus exsortes luminis, Reclinatoria e prunis, Vermiculus irrequietus,
Vincula. indissolubilia,
Scripture echoes
- ↩Dan.7.10;Rev.20.12 — A river of fire flowed and poured out before him. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. Rev.20.12 — And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their works.
- ↩1Cor.4.5 — Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the purposes of the hearts; and then each one's praise will come from God.
- ↩Isa.5.14 — Therefore Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth beyond measure; and down go her splendor, her multitude, her tumult, and the one who exults in her.
- ↩Mark.9.43-Mark.9.48;Isa.66.24 — And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. Mark.9.45 — And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. Mark.9.47 — And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than, having two eyes, to be thrown into Gehenna. Mark.9.48 — where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Isa.66.24 — And they shall go out and see the corpses of the men who rebelled against me, for their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.
- ↩Mark.9.48;Isa.66.24 — where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. Isa.66.24 — And they shall go out and see the corpses of the men who rebelled against me, for their worm shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.
Notes
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