On the Great thought of Eternity
by St. Alfonso Maria de Liguori
I. Thus did St.
Augustin designate the thought of eternity: The great thought: magna
cogitatio. It was this thought that induced so many solitaries to retire
into deserts, so many religious, even kings and queens, to shut
themselves up in cloisters, and so many martyrs to sacrifice their lives
in the midst of torments, in order to acquire a happy eternity in
heaven, and to avoid a miserable eternity in hell. The Ven. John of
Avila converted a certain lady with these two words: Reflect, said he to
her, on these two words: Ever and Never. A certain monk went down into a
grave that he might meditate continually on eternity, and constantly
repeated, O eternity! eternity! How frequently, my God, have I deserved
the eternity of hell! Oh that I had never offended thee! Grant me sorrow
for my sins, have compassion on me.
II. The same Ven. John of Avila says, that he who believes in eternity and becomes not a saint, should be confined as one deranged. He who builds a house for himself, takes great pains to make it commodious, airy and handsome; and says: "I labour and give myself a great deal of trouble about this house, because I shall have to live in it all my life." And yet how little is the house of eternity thought of! When we shall have arrived at eternity, there will be no question of our residing in a house more or less commodious, or more or less airy; the question will be of our dwelling in a region overflowing with delights, or in a gulf of endless torments. And for how long a time? not for forty or fifty years, but for ever, as long as God shall be God. The saints to obtain salvation thought it little, to give their whole lives to prayer, penance, and the practice of good works. And what do we do for the same end? O my God! many years of my life are already past, already death is near at hand, and what good have I hitherto done for thee? Give me light, and strength, to devote the remainder of my days to thy service. Too much alas! have I offended thee, I desire henceforth to love thee.
III. With fear and trembling work out your salvation, Phil. ii. 12. To obtain salvation we must tremble at the thought of being lost, and tremble not so much at the thought of hell, as of sin, which alone can send us thither. He who dreads sin, avoids dangerous occasions, frequently recommends himself to God, and has recourse to the means of keeping himself in the state of grace. He who acts thus, will be saved; but for him who lives not in this manner it is morally impossible to be saved. Let us attend to that saying of St. Bernard: We cannot be too secure where eternity is at stake. Thy blood, O Jesus, my Redeemer is my security. I should have been already lost on account of my sins, hadst thou not offered me thy pardon, on condition of my repentance for having offended thee. I am sorry therefore with my whole heart for having offended Thee who art infinite goodness. I love Thee, O sovereign good, above every other good. I know that Thou willest my salvation, and I will endeavor to secure it by loving Thee for ever. O Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me.
O Holy Spirit, divine
spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my understanding, heart,
and will, my whole being for time and eternity. May my understanding be
always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations, and to the teaching of
the Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible Guide; may my
heart be ever inflamed with love of God and of my neighbor; may my will
be ever conformed to the divine will, and may my whole life be a
faithful imitation of the life and virtues of Our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, to Whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory forever.
Amen.
(Indulgence of 300 days, once a day. -- Pius X, 1908)
