¹ I urge you, dearest brothers, as I have often reminded you, to make it your constant practice to meditate on the day of our death and the fearful and dreadful judgment that awaits us. For indeed, no remedy can be found more effective for healing the wounds of all our sins than for each person to consider that hour when they will depart from this world. How could anyone dare to commit grave sins if they truly believe that at any moment they might leave this life? As Scripture says: “Remember, my son, that death does not delay”, and also: “Remember your last things, and cease from sin”.

² Whoever reflects carefully on how severe the examination will be before the tribunal of Christ, where each one will receive according to their deeds, cannot take pleasure in their own sins or crimes. For when all nations are gathered before that awe-inspiring Judge, what weeping of eyes and grinding of teeth will there be for the unjust, the adulterers, and the greedy, when they see the great multitude of saints set apart to the right of the King in glory, while the people of sin are cast into the depths of Tartarus, plunged without end into misery, without hope of mercy or pardon, forever shut out from the blessed light of the saints and condemned to the darkness of their own making!

³ When they see themselves descending without end into the abyss, and their mouths gasping at the chasm of eternal torments and everlasting death, which never dies, then in vain will they beg for mercy from the poor whom they despised in this life. In vain will they plead, with burning lips, for just the tip of Lazarus’ finger to cool their agony. How much will the wretched soul wish—when it beholds the glory of the poor—that it had endured the hardships of poverty, suffered the trials of this fleeting life, and carried its burdens so that it might not now be condemned to these eternal torments!

⁴ Therefore, dearest brothers, so that we may not deserve to hear such harsh and terrifying words before the tribunal of the eternal Judge, let us, while we still have time and with God’s help, examine our consciences. If we recognize that any grave sins or capital offenses still dominate us and have not yet been purified through almsgiving and prayer, let us hasten, with Christ’s assistance, to enter the safe harbour of repentance, overcoming the waves of sin.

⁵ If we perceive that the ship of our soul has been broken by the many storms of sin—whether shattered by pride, torn apart by greed, or loosened by lust—let us make haste to repair and restore it with good works. Past sins do not harm us if they no longer please us. Just as no righteous person’s justice is sufficient unless they persevere until the end, so too, no sinner’s iniquity will harm them if, before departing from this body, they take refuge in the remedy of almsgiving or the medicine of repentance.

⁶ But since we do not know when or at what hour we will be taken from this world, let us not delay or hesitate to flee from the left hand of condemnation to the right hand of salvation. Let us not trust in our health or our age. Let the one who is always uncertain of his life always be vigilant for the salvation of his soul. For the One who reassured us, saying: “On the day that a sinner repents, all his iniquities will be forgotten”, also warned us to be cautious, saying: “Do not delay in turning to the Lord, and do not put it off from day to day”.

⁷ But perhaps, when we generally call everyone to repentance, someone may think to themselves and say: “I am a young man with a wife—how can I either cut my hair short or take up the garb of religion?” But, dearest brothers, this is not what we are saying; this is not what we are preaching—that young men who are seen to be married should change their clothing more than their way of life. For what harm is there for a man who has a wife if he chooses to turn from his sinful ways to good and upright works? If he seeks to heal the wounds of his sins through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, restoring himself to his former spiritual health? True conversion is sufficient in itself without a change of clothing. But religious garments without good works will not only fail to bring salvation but will also justly incur God’s judgment.

⁸ Therefore, let us turn to what is better while the means of healing are still in our power. Here and now, let us put an end to death by dying to sin. Here, by meriting life, let us obtain true life—through Him who lives and reigns with the Father for ever and ever. Amen.