CAPG's Blog 

This hope cannot be reasonable, except we discover in ourselves some proportion at least of those graces and virtues by which the soul of the Blessed Virgin was prepared for the happiness of this day. It is the love of God, humility, purity, patience, the spirit of adoration, praise and thanksgiving, that must be the ground of these hopes; these being the necessary dispositions, by which our souls must be prepared for the state of bliss. For that being a state, wherein the souls of the blessed are for ever magnifying and adoring our Lord, how can a Christian be prepared for this, but by the spirit of adoration here? That being a state of perfect union with God in love and submission, how can a Christian be prepared for this, but by loving Him here, and by perpetual endeavors to approve and embrace His will in all things? That being a state of infinite holiness and purity; what other preparation can there be for it, but by daily disengaging our souls from sin and impurity, and ever laboring to obtain clean hearts. It is certainly a great delusion to think of being translated to that life of infinite perfection, from a worldly and sinful life. There must be nuptial robes for as many as are to be admitted to the marriage of the Lamb. And if all others are to be cast forth into utter darkness, who come not thus vested, what hopes can they have, who in this life, when they should be making preparation, have their souls covered with no other garments but those of slaves, of the enemies of God, and of sin? The life of the just in heaven, and on earth, is the same, consisting in the knowledge and love of God; and the difference of one life from the other, is only in the different degrees of this knowledge and love. So that the qualifications which make up the justice of this life, being the same with those of the life eternal, there is nothing more necessary for the just on earth to become eternally blessed, but only the augmenting those very gifts, with which their souls are found enriched at the hour of their death; God then perfecting His work by glory, which was begun and carried on here by His grace. How then can those Christians, in reason, hope to have any part in this happiness, who have none of those graces in them, which are to be perfected by glory? Can the knowledge and love of God be perfected in those souls, which have neither the knowledge nor love of God in them? They have more reason to apprehend that those very affections and passions, with which their souls are disordered at the hour of their deaths, will then be augmented, their ingratitude, disobedience, aversion to God's law and will, their pride, self-love, and sensuality. Heaven being not accessible to these abominations, whither must they go, but to the place of eternal confusion, where being incapable of change, their souls will for all eternity lie under those very disorders, in which death found them?

Have not then all Christians great reason to be preparing their souls all their lives, and not to put off this work to the last hour? For who knows if they shall then have that time, which they now promise themselves? Who knows if their sickness will be such, as to give them opportunity of then undertaking this work? And if they do undertake it, how very little hopes can they have of finishing it? Will the divine grace be then at their command, which they have neglected all their lives? Christ said to the Jews, that they would seek Him, and yet die in their sins. These seek Christ then, but not seeking Him as they ought, may not find Him, who has been so often rejected by them. And though they come to confession, and find their hearts then oppressed with grief, yet who can say that this may not be more a natural trouble, than contrition for their sins? Who can give hopes that this works now in a moment that effectual change in their souls, of which they had so long before thought, but without any effect? This can be the effect of nothing less than a miraculous grace: and are miracles to be expected by those who have so long been obstinate against all ordinary helps? Truly there appear so many difficulties in this case, that they must be presumptuously mad, who expose their salvation to this hazard. This is not the method of the saints whom we honor: it is not the lesson which we learn from our Master, who knowing the danger of the last hour, commands us to be prepared against it: Be you also ready. Teach us, O Jesus, this lesson, that when Thou callest, we may be found watching. Deliver us from all the effects of sloth and presumption; and since what we desire is to enjoy Thy presence, may we never permit any disorder in our souls, which would exclude us from this happiness." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother