Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/285

 with the  soul,  they  may  receive  reward  or  punishment according to  their  works. Remember that,  if  condemned, you  will  again  receive  your  body,  which  will serve for  the  eternal  prison  of  your  soul. Then will the soul  curse  the  body  and  the  body  the  soul,  so that  body  and  soul,  which  are  now  united  in  the pursuit of  forbidden  pleasures,  will  be  again  united  to torment  each  other  after  death. If, on  the  other hand, you  are  saved,  then  will  your  body  arise  in perfect  beauty,  radiant  and  incapable  of  suffering,  so that  both  soul  and  body  will  be  worthy  of  eternal  life. Thus will  this  life,  like  an  act  of  a drama,  end. All the delight,  as  well  as  the  pomp  of  this  world,  will end. All is  over  then. Nothing remains  but  two eternities, the  one  of  glory  and  the  other  of  punishment; one  of  bliss,  the  other  of  misery; one  of  joy, and the  other  of  suffering; the  just  in  heaven,  the sinners in  hell. [Examine how  you  stand, and  especially with regard  to  your  besetting  sin.]  Poor,  then,  will  be that  man  who  has  loved  the  world,  and  who,  for  the miserable joys  of  this  world,  has  lost  everything — everything, soul,  body,  heaven,  and  God. [Awaken your contrition,  and  make  a firm  resolution.]

III. Consider the  eternal  sentence. Jesus Christ the judge  will  turn  towards  the  reprobates,  and  say: It is  all  over  with  you; now,  ungrateful  souls,  all  is over ! My hour  is  now  come; the  hour  of  truth  and justice, the  hour  of  wrath  and  vengeance. “ Depart from me,  ye  cursed,  into  everlasting  fire.”  (Matt,  xxv.) Away, ye  sinners. You have  loved  cursing,  and  now let it  come  upon  you. Accursed be  ye  all,  now  and throughout all  eternity ! Depart from  my  presence; go, deprived  of  all  you  possessed,  laden  with  torments, go into  eternal  fire! [In view  of  this  judgment, examine  yourself  on  your  besetting  sin.]