However, Father was very cautious because he said that only God can decide where a person goes. HE and HE ALONE is the judge which ties into this morning's meditation. See if you think this is very apropos:
"The just man who is truly concerned about his eternal salvation will from time to time think of his future Judge. He will meditate before death overtakes him upon the account he will have to give of his life. If there are no great sins wherewith his conscience reproaches him, he still has cause for alarm on account of the daily sins of which he perhaps takes little heed. For how often do we not sin in thought? It is comparatively easy to avoid evil deeds, but it is a far more difficult matter to keep one's heart free from inordinate thoughts. Yet we read in Holy Scripture: `Woe to you that devise that which is unprofitable and work evil in your thoughts' (Mich. ii. i). And again: 'In your heart you work iniquities' (Ps. Ivii. 3).
"Hence the just are ever in fear of the awful judgments of God, for they are conscious that all these secret sins will be brought to judgment, as St. Paul says: `In that day God shall judge the secrets of men' (Rom. ii. 16). And although all his life long a good man will walk in fear of the judgment, yet this fear will notably increase as he draws near to the end of his days. It is said of Our Lord, that when the time of His death approached, He began to be sorrowful and to fear, and being in an agony, He prayed the longer. Was not this intended to teach us how it would be with us in our latter end, and what distress and anguish would overwhelm us?"
POPE ST. GREGORY
Beautiful! This is so true. I often think of what happens to those souls that have left the faith. Surely they must tremble at the end of life? I thank God for our Third Order. I know that there is a gaurantee that you will pray for the members of this Order when they die, and that is a most comforting thought, even if no one else does so. I never knew Madeline, but I feel close to her because she was in the Church. So I pray for her soul and all souls that needs prayers said for them.
ReplyDeleteIt really was a beautiful funeral. There was just something about it. I was so glad I got to see her before she was comatose and I was glad to be with her during her last days. She was a great example to us all. :-)
ReplyDelete~Angela