Reflections on Death and Judgment for Religious

WHAT is death? A complete separation of the soul from the body—they must part after long years of close union.

2 What will become of my body after death? “Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return.”

3. What will become of my soul at death? Oh! what will become of my soul? I know not; all is shrouded in impenetrable mystery—I have expired, the voice of prayer has sunk into silence—whilst it was yet whispering over my body my soul had been judged. Oh! what has become of it? No one knows but God and my own soul.

4. I shall be judged—where? In that room, before the Sisters think I have breathed my last. A fear shall come upon them, for beside them is the tribunal, the Judge, the accusers, the accused; in an instant the fate of one they have known is sealed for eternity: she is gone, they know not whither.

5. I shall be judged—by whom? The living and eternal God—the great, the just, the equitable Judge! a Judge of justice, no longer merciful; to Him I must render an account of thoughts long forgotten, of words lightly spoken, but faithfully registered by the accusing spirit—words perhaps sinful and unatoned for—works imperfect, and shrinking from the all-seeing, all-enlightening light of the Eternal eye—omissions of duty—graces neglected—inspirations despised. Oh! what an awful judgment, what an awful moment even for the good, for who shall be found pure in the light of purity itself? What a judgment—what a moment for the imperfect Religious? Her soul suddenly enlightened by the brilliant rays of eternity, embraces in a single glance the whole extent of her obligations, the entire series of graces which she has received, all the circumstances attendant on her infidelities.

6. Religious have been lost—shall I be lost? Shall I hear from the lips of my Judge: Go, ye accursed, into everlasting fire; that is to say, all our bonds of union are now dissolved! go far from Me, strayed sheep, I am no longer thy Shepherd: go far from Me, faithless spouse, I am no longer thine: go far from Me, unnatural child, I am no longer thy Father; go, for all eternity! Alas, my God! shall this be my sentence—the sentence of her whom Thou hast chosen from amongst thousands, and called to be Thy spouse, and to stand with the Lamb upon Mount Sion, and to be of the one hundred and forty-four thousand having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads?

7. I can be a saint. How? “Abide in Me,” saith Our Lord; “I am the vine, you the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.” Confiding, then, in Thee, O my God, if I use the plenteous means afforded for sanctification, I can be a saint—a saint for all eternity, for ever with the saints, where God Himself shall be my God, and shall wipe away the tears from mine eyes, and death shall be no more, nor mourning; nor crying, nor sorrow, for the former things have passed away. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor hath it entered the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love Him. Then, O my soul, serve Him here, and He and His angels shall minister unto you hereafter; live for Him in time, that you may live and reign with Him for all eternity.