Consideration XXV — The General Judgment

"Cognoscetur Dominus iudicia faciens" (Ps. 9:17).

Point I

At present, if one considers well, there is no person in the world more despised than Jesus Christ. More regard is given to a peasant than to God; for people fear that the peasant, seeing himself too much offended, may be moved to anger and take revenge. But injuries are done to God, and repeated freely, as if God could not take vengeance when He wishes. "Et quasi nihil possit facere Omnipotens, aestimabant eum" (Job 22:17). But for this reason the Redeemer has appointed a day, which will be the day of the general judgment (called by the Scriptures "Dies Domini"), on which Jesus Christ will make Himself known for the great Lord that He is. "Cognoscetur Dominus iudicia faciens" (Ps. 9:17). Hence such a day is called no longer a day of mercy and pardon, but "Dies irae, dies tribulationis, et angustiae, dies calamitatis, et miseriae" (Zeph. 1:15). Yes, for then the Lord will justly wish to restore the honor that sinners have sought to take from Him on this earth. Let us see how the judgment of this great day will unfold.

Before the judge comes, "Ignis ante Ipsum praecedet" (Ps. 96:3). Fire will come down from heaven and burn the earth and all things upon the earth. "Terra, et quae in ipsa sunt opera, exurentur" (2 Pet. 3:10). So palaces, churches, villas, cities, kingdoms — all shall become a heap of ashes. This house, infected with sins, must be purged by fire. Here is the end that all the riches, the pomp, and the pleasures of this earth must come to. After men have died, the trumpet will sound and all will rise again. "Canet enim tuba, et mortui resurgent" (1 Cor. 15:52). St. Jerome says: "Quoties diem iudicii considero, contremisco; semper videtur illa tuba insonare auribus meis: Surgite, mortui, venite ad iudicium." At the sound of this trumpet, the beautiful souls of the blessed will descend to be reunited with the bodies with which they served God in this life; and the unhappy souls of the damned will rise from hell to be reunited with those cursed bodies with which they offended God.

Oh, what a difference there will be then between the bodies of the blessed and those of the damned! The blessed will appear beautiful, radiant, resplendent more than the sun. "Tunc iusti fulgebunt sicut sol" (Matt. 13:43). Oh, happy is the one who in this life knows how to mortify his flesh, denying it forbidden pleasures; and to keep it more in check, denies it even the lawful pleasures of the senses, and mistreats it, as the saints have done! Oh, how content he will then find himself — like a St. Peter of Alcantara, who after death said to St. Teresa: "O felix poenitentia, quae tantam mihi promeruit gloriam!" On the contrary, the bodies of the reprobate will appear deformed, black, and foul.

Oh, what pain the damned person will feel upon being reunited with his body! Accursed body, the soul will say, it is because I sought to please you that I am lost. And the body will say: Accursed soul, and you who had the use of reason, why did you grant me those pleasures that have caused both you and me to be lost for all eternity?

Affections and Prayers

Ah, my Jesus, my Redeemer, who one day must be my judge, pardon me before that day arrives. "Non avertas faciem tuam a me." Now You are a Father to me, and as a Father receive into Your grace a son who returns repentant to Your feet. My Father, I ask Your pardon; I offended You unjustly; I left You unjustly; You did not deserve to be treated by me as I have treated You; I repent and grieve for it with all my heart; pardon me. "Non avertas faciem tuam a me": do not turn Your face from me; do not drive me away, as I would deserve. Remember the blood You shed for me, and have pity on me. My Jesus, I want no other judge than You. St. Thomas of Villanova said: "Libenter illius iudicium subeo, qui pro me mortuus est, et ne me damnaret, ad crucem se damnari permisit." And before him St. Paul said the same: "Quis est, qui condemnet? Christus Iesus, qui mortuus est" (Rom. 8).

My Father, I love You, and for the future I wish to depart no more from Your feet. Forget the injuries I have done You, and give me a great love for Your goodness. I desire to love You more than I have offended You; but if You do not help me, I cannot love You.

Help me, my Jesus; make me live grateful for Your love, so that on that day I may find myself in the valley among the number of those who love You.

O Mary, my Queen and advocate, help me now, for if I am lost, on that day you will no longer be able to help me. You pray for all; pray also for me, who boast of being your devoted servant, and who trust so greatly in you.

Point II

After men have risen, they will be summoned by the angels to go to the Valley of Josaphat, to be judged there: "Populi, populi in valle concisionis, quia iuxta est dies Domini" (Joel 3:14). Once they have gathered there, the angels will come and separate the reprobate from the elect. "Exibunt angeli, et separabunt malos de medio iustorum" (Matt. 13:49). The just will remain on the right, and the damned will be driven to the left. What pain it would be for someone to be expelled from a gathering or from a church! But what far greater pain it will be then to be driven from the company of the saints: "Quomodo putas impios confundendos, quando, segregatis iustis, fuerint derelicti!" St. John Chrysostom says that even if the damned had no other punishment, this shame alone would suffice to make their hell: "Et si nihil ulterius paterentur, ista sola verecundia sufficeret eis ad poenam." The son will be separated from the father, the husband from the wife, the master from the servant: "Unus assumetur, et alter relinquetur" (Matt. 24:40). Tell me, my brother, what place do you think will then fall to you? Would you wish to find yourself on the right? Then leave the road that leads you to the left.

Now on this earth, princes and the wealthy are held to be the fortunate ones, and the saints who live poor and humble are despised. O faithful ones who love God, do not be distressed at seeing yourselves so vilified and afflicted on this earth: "Tristitia vertetur in gaudium" (John 16:20). Then you will be called the truly fortunate, and you will have the honor of being declared members of the court of Jesus Christ. Oh, what a beautiful figure a St. Peter of Alcantara will cut then — he who was vilified almost as an apostate! A St. John of God, who was treated as a madman! A St. Peter Celestine, who, having renounced the papacy, died in a prison! Oh, what honors then will so many martyrs receive who were torn apart by executioners! "Tunc laus erit unicuique a Deo" (1 Cor. 4:5). And oh, what a horrible figure, on the contrary, will be cut by a Herod, a Pilate, a Nero! And so many other great ones of the earth who are damned! Oh, lovers of the world, to the valley, to the valley I await you. There without doubt you will change your minds. There you will weep over your madness. Wretches, who, in order to make a brief appearance on the stage of this earth, will then have to play the part of the damned in the tragedy of the judgment. The elect, then, will be placed on the right; indeed, for their greater glory (as the Apostle says) they will be lifted up into the air above the clouds, to go with the angels to meet Jesus Christ, who is to come from heaven: "Rapiemur cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aëra" (1 Thess. 4:6). And the damned, like so many goats destined for slaughter, will be confined to the left, to await their judge, who must make the public condemnation of all his enemies.

But behold, already the heavens open; the angels come to attend the judgment, bearing the signs of the passion of Jesus Christ: "Veniente Domino ad iudicium," says St. Thomas, "signum crucis, et alia passionis indicia demonstrabuntur." Especially the cross will appear: "Et tunc parebit signum Filii hominis in coelo, et tunc plangent omnes tribus terrae" (Matt. 24:30). Cornelius a Lapide says: Oh, how at the sight of the cross the sinners will then weep — those who in life made no account of their eternal salvation, which cost the Son of God so dearly! "Plangent qui salutem suam, quae Christo tam cara stetit, neglexerint." Then, says St. John Chrysostom: "Clavi de te conquerentur, cicatrices contra te loquentur, crux Christi contra te perorabit." The holy Apostles and all their imitators will also attend as assessors of this judgment, and together with Jesus Christ they will judge the nations: "Fulgebunt iusti, iudicabunt nationes" (Wis. 3:7). The Queen of saints and angels, Most Holy Mary, will also come to attend. Finally the eternal judge will come upon a throne of majesty and light. "Et videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nubibus coeli, cum virtute multa et maiestate" (Matt. 24:31). "A facie eius cruciabuntur populi" (Joel 2:6). The sight of Jesus Christ will console the elect, but to the reprobate it will bring more pain than hell itself: "Damnatis," says St. Jerome, "melius esset inferni poenas, quam Domini praesentiam ferre." St. Teresa said: My Jesus, give me every punishment, but do not let me see Your face angered with me on that day. And St. Basil: "Superat omnem poenam confusio ista." Then will come to pass what St. John foretold — that the damned will beg the mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the sight of their angry judge: "Dicent autem montibus: Cadite super nos, et abscondite nos a facie sedentis super thronum, et ab ira Agni" (Rev. 6:16).

Affections and Prayers

O my dear Redeemer, O Lamb of God, who came into the world not to punish but to pardon sins, I beg You, pardon me quickly, before that day arrives on which You are to be my judge. Then the sight of You, the Lamb who had such patience with me in bearing with me — if ever I should be lost — would be the hell of my hell. I repeat, pardon me quickly; draw me with Your merciful hand from the precipice into which I have fallen through my sins. I repent, O supreme Good, of having offended You, and so greatly offended You. I love You, my judge, who have loved me so much. I beg You, through the merits of Your death, give me a great grace that may change me from a sinner into a saint. You have promised to hear whoever prays to You: "Clama ad me et exaudiam te" (Job 33:3). I do not ask You for earthly goods; I ask for Your grace, Your love, and nothing else. Hear me, my Jesus, for that love which You bore me when You died for me on the cross. My beloved judge, I am the accused, but an accused who loves You more than himself. Have pity on me.

Mary, my Mother, quickly, help me quickly; now is the time when you can help me. You did not abandon me when I lived forgetful of you and of God; help me now that I am resolved to serve you always and to offend my Lord no more. O Mary, you are my hope.

Point III

But now the judgment begins. The records are opened, which are the consciences of each one: "Iudicium sedit et libri aperti sunt" (Dan. 7:10). The witnesses against the reprobate will be, first, the demons, who will say (according to St. Augustine): "Aequissime Deus, iudica esse meum qui tuus esse noluit." Second, their own consciences: "Testimonium reddente illis conscientia ipsorum" (Rom. 2:15). Furthermore, witnesses crying for vengeance will be the very walls of the house where sinners offended God. "Lapis de pariete clamabit" (Hab. 2:11). A witness, finally, will be the judge Himself, who was present at all the offenses done to Him. "Ego sum iudex, et testis, dicit Dominus" (Jer. 29:23). St. Paul says that then the Lord "illuminabit abscondita tenebrarum" (1 Cor. 4:5). He will make visible to all men the most secret and shameful sins of the reprobate, which in life were hidden even from confessors. "Revelabo pudenda tua in facie tua" (Nahum 3:5). As for the sins of the elect, the Master of the Sentences and others hold that they will not then be manifested, but will be found covered, according to what David said: "Beati quorum remissae sunt iniquitates, et quorum tecta sunt peccata" (Ps. 31:1). On the other hand, St. Basil says that the sins of the reprobate will be seen by all at a glance, as in a painting: "Unico intuitu singula peccata velut in pictura noscentur." St. Thomas says: If in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus Christ said "Ego sum," all the soldiers who had come to seize Him fell to the ground, what will it be when, seated as judge, He says to the damned: Behold, I am the one you so despised? "Quid faciet iudicaturus, qui hoc fecit iudicandus?"

But come now, the sentence is at hand. Jesus Christ will first turn to the elect and say to them those sweet words: "Venite, benedicti Patris mei, possidete paratum vobis regnum a constitutione mundi" (Matt. 25:34). When it was revealed to St. Francis of Assisi that he was predestined, he could not contain himself for consolation; what joy it will be to hear the judge say: Come, blessed children, come to the kingdom! There are no more sufferings for you, no more fear; you are and will be saved for all eternity. I bless the blood I shed for you, and I bless the tears you shed for your sins: let us go up to paradise, where we will remain always together for all eternity. Most Holy Mary will also bless her devoted ones and invite them to come with her to heaven, and so, singing "Alleluia, alleluia," the elect will enter in triumph into paradise, to possess, to praise, and to love God forever.

On the other hand, the damned, turning to Jesus Christ, will say: And what is to become of us wretches? And the eternal judge will say: Since you have renounced and despised my grace, "discedite a me, maledicti, in ignem aeternum" (Matt. 25:41). "Discedite" — depart from me, for I no longer wish to see or hear you. "Maledicti" — go, and go accursed, since you despised my blessing. And where, Lord, must these wretches go? "In ignem" — to hell, to burn in soul and body. And for how many years, or how many centuries? What years, what centuries! "In ignem aeternum" — for all eternity, as long as God is God. After this sentence, says St. Ephrem, the reprobate will take leave of the angels, of the saints, of their kindred, and of the divine Mother: "Valete iusti, vale crux, vale paradise. Valete patres ac filii, nullum siquidem vestrum visuri sumus ultra. Vale tu quoque Dei Genitrix Maria." And so in the midst of the valley a great pit will open, into which demons and damned will fall together; and they will hear behind them — O God — those gates close, which will never, never, never open again for all eternity. O accursed sin, to what an unhappy end you will one day bring so many poor souls! O unhappy souls, for whom so lamentable an end is reserved!

Affections and Prayers

Ah, my Savior and God, what will be the sentence that falls to me on that day? If now, my Jesus, You asked me to render an account of my life, what could I answer You but that I deserve a thousand hells? Yes, it is true, my dear Redeemer, I deserve a thousand hells; but know that I love You, and I love You more than myself; and for the offenses I have done You, I feel such sorrow that I would have been content to suffer every evil rather than to have displeased You. You condemn, O my Jesus, obstinate sinners, but not those who repent and wish to love You. Here I am at Your feet, repentant; let me hear that You pardon me. But already You make me hear it through the prophet: "Convertimini ad me, et convertar ad vos" (Zech. 1:3). I leave everything; I renounce all the pleasures and goods of the world, and I turn and embrace You, my beloved Redeemer. Receive me into Your holy love; but inflame me so much that I no longer think of separating myself from You. My Jesus, save me, and let my salvation be to love You always and always to praise Your mercies. "Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo."

Mary, my hope, my refuge, and my Mother, help me and obtain for me holy perseverance. No one who has had recourse to you has ever been lost. To you I commend myself; have pity on me.