Theological Foundations new file

174 Theological Foundations power of illness will try to tear out the soul from the body and the soul will oppose, linger and resist, unwilling to leave its dwelling, aware of the evil it had committed there. What is it that you will try to say with your words then? What will you try to express in your prayers? Which patron saint will you call upon?Which of your friends (divine or human) will you call to help you? Nothing will be able to help you but the aware- ness of your deeds, rightly based on Christ’s merits.” 6 But then the moment of death comes and the soul goes before God where, after its deeds have been judged, it will receive the verdict and will either enter the heavenly glory, or go into the purifying flames, or be sent to eternal damnation. We must always keep this reality before our eyes and begin to cultivate in our hearts the honor for the Mother of the dying and for our Guardian Angel right now. Thus we will be able to secure their assistance at the moment when man cannot help himself any longer. 7 As he tries to appeal to our imagination in a very profound manner, Father Papczynski gives a detailed and realistic description of the con- sequences of death for the human body. When the soul leaves it, the body will become cold, pale and will begin to decay, all its limbs will stiffen and shrink. Then the body will be placed in a grave. The same people who, while the man was alive, wished him a long life, will hasti- ly return him to earth. ... In this manner, the author wishes to persuade every Christian to work diligently on his character, to be humble, mod- est, to mortify his body and to submit it to the power and authority of God over the immortal soul. 8 As we read Father Papczynski’s thoughts on this entire subject, we also encounter certain paschal elements there. After all, Jesus did say: “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also” (Jn 14, 1-3). We must therefore, follow the Lord, so that we might enter the gate of life together with Him. It is His wish