¹ We have attempted in previous discourses to offer some suggestion regarding the necessity of remorse, and, as if conversing with ourselves, we have sought to stir up the slothfulness of our own hearts. But because the poverty of faith and the will of the flesh, along with the desires of the world, hear these lessons of correction with tepidity and disdain, they must often be repeated. If faith were not doubtful, even one of the testimonies of divine oracles mentioned above would be abundantly sufficient. Thus, those who neglect what they hear both believe and do not believe; otherwise, if someone were to say to you today, “Tomorrow, the judge of this world intends to burn you alive,” what anxiety, what fear would arise in you? Upon hearing this, if you had but one free day, how much would you do? How would you cry out? Through whom would you run? How humble, how sorrowful, how wretched would you wander? Would you not pour out all your wealth upon those whose intercession you believed could save you? Would you not give away all your goods as a ransom for your soul, reserving nothing, even if you were a miser and covetous, but rather dissipating everything, giving all for your life? And if anyone tried to delay or hinder you, would you not say, “Let all things perish for my salvation, let nothing remain—only let me live!”? Why would you do this? Because you would have no doubt that, according to the sentence of the most severe Judge, you would burn. Yet here, you do doubt, simply because you do not know how soon it will happen. But you do not ignore that it will happen, though you are negligent. Therefore, we must awaken, we must keep watch, we must pray, according to the command of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our God, who says:

² “Be careful, or your hearts may become weighed down with indulgence, drunkenness, and the worries of everyday life—and that day may catch you off guard, like a trap. For it will come suddenly upon everyone living on the earth. So stay alert, and pray continually, that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

³ If we hear and believe these words, our vigilance will demonstrate our faith, and shaking off the sloth and numbness of deadly tepidity, the words of our Lord and Savior will stir our senses. Having laid aside all mortal cares, let us always be prepared, awaiting the coming of the last day, which will receive us either into punishment or into glory. Let the aforementioned words of the Lord sharpen the keenness of our souls, by which He taught us to be constantly watchful and prayerful, so that we may not be like those who believe yet do not believe, or who hear yet do not hear. Let us ceaselessly implore, supplicate, and pray from the depths of our hearts for the ineffable mercy of God, the good and gracious One, through Jesus Christ, His Son. May He deign to inspire us with such love that He may join us to Himself forever, bind us to Him inseparably, raise us from the earth, and unite our minds to heaven while we remain in this mortal body. Thus, we may await His coming without reproach, so that when He appears, we may meet Him with joy and great confidence in charity. “Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he comes will find watching!”

⁴ Blessed is the vigil that is kept for God, the Creator of the universe, who fills all things and surpasses all things. Would that He deigned to awaken me as well—though I am vile, yet still His little servant—from the slumber of inertia, and to kindle me with the fire of divine love, so that the flame of His charity, the longing of His great love, might burn within me beyond the stars, and that the divine fire might always burn within me! Would that I had the wood that would continually nourish, feed, and ignite that fire, that the flame might be sustained, never extinguished, and ever increasing! Would that I were worthy, so that my lamp might always burn at night in the temple of my Lord, illuminating all who enter the house of my God!

⁵ Lord, I ask You, in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, my God, grant me that love which never falls away, so that my lamp may be kindled and never extinguished—burning for me, shining for others. You, Christ, deign to light our lamps, O sweetest Savior, so that they may shine perpetually in Your temple and receive from You, the Eternal Light, an everlasting radiance, that our darkness may be illuminated and the darkness of the world may flee from us. Thus, I pray, my Jesus, that You may so generously grant Your light to my lamp that by its radiance, those holy places of the Holy of Holies may appear to me, where You, the eternal High Priest, enter into the courts of Your great temple, that I may ever see You alone, gaze upon You, desire You; that loving You alone, I may look upon You, long for You, wait for You, and that my lamp may always shine and burn before You.

⁶ I beseech You, most loving Savior, to reveal Yourself to us who knock, that knowing You, we may love only You, desire only You, meditate on You alone day and night, always think of You. And may You so inspire us with Your love as is fitting for God to be loved and cherished, so that Your love may take possession of our whole being, that Your love may fill all our senses, that we may know nothing else to love but You, who are eternal. May such great charity never be extinguished in us by the many waters of this air, this earth, or this sea, according to the words: “Many waters cannot quench love.” May this also be fulfilled in us, even in part, by Your gift, O Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.