you cursed, into everlasting fire.”[1] Ah, those words are enough to dry up the marrow of one’s bones! Depart from Me, you cursed! Whereto? Into everlasting fire!
Plan of Discourse.
The first part of this sentence shall form the whole subject of to-day’s meditation; namely, the words, Depart from Me, you cursed. Just souls, who have the good will to serve your God, be not afraid! Let any feeling of dread that may arise iti your minds only spur you on to continue in the pious lives you have been leading I Wicked Christians, who are still in the state of sin, fear and tremble, but with a salutary fear that shall bring you back again to the right path. This twofold effect is the end of our meditation.
Future Judge! God of all hearts! inspire us all with that salutary fear, through the intercession of the Mother of mercy and of our holy guardian angels.
The circumstances of the place shall make the sentence terrible. First, let us consider the circumstances of the place in which the sentence is to be pronounced; and that is the valley of Josaphat, where shall be assembled all angels, men, and devils. When an angry father is about to inflict just punishment on a disobedient son, in order to give it more effect he calls into the room his other children as well, and gives them presents, while he permits the guilty one to go empty-handed. He means thereby to say to the latter: see, if you bad conducted yourself properly, you should have got something too; but now come here, and I will give you what you deserve. Children, remain where you are. Then he takes the rod and proceeds to execution. This punishment is far more grievous to the son than if it had been inflicted in secret; partly on account of the envy he feels at seeing his brothers presented with gifts and enjoying themselves; partly on account of the shame and disgrace of being chastised before them. Far worse and more intolerable would the punishment be if the others mocked at him mercilessly and laughed at his tears and cries. My dear brethren, this is a childish simile of the great final judgment which shall be fulfilled on the sinner on the last day. It is mere childishness compared to the anger of the Judge who will then inflict the punishment. Fatherly mildness and affection, with which the chastisement is inflicted on
- ↑ Tunc dicet et his, qui a sinistris erunt: Discedite a me, maledicti, in ignem æternum.—Matt. xxv. 41.
