Mirror of Sinners on the Contempt of the World

contempt must be shown, and He endured the evils of the world so that He might teach us how to endure evils, so that one should neither seek happiness in them nor fear adversity in them. Hear then Saint Bernard saying thus: "O man, how lovable is your soul, and how grievous were its wounds, for which it was necessary for Christ to be wounded. If they had not been for this eternal death, the Son would never have been moved to be the remedy. Do not despise the passion of your soul, for which you see such a passion displayed in such great majesty. Do not apprehend what the flesh wants, but what the spirit demands." If you truly say, "This is a hard saying; I cannot listen to it," for I cannot despise myself and hate my own flesh, tell me, where are the lovers of this world who were with you a short time ago? Nothing remains of them but ashes and worms. Consider what they are or what they were; humans, just like you, they ate and drank and laughed and led their days in good things, and in a moment descended into hell. Here is their flesh, and there is their soul, assigned to eternal fires. What did the vain glory, short joy, power of the world, carnal pleasure, false riches, great household, and evil cupidity avail them? Where is the laughter, where the jest, where the boasting, where the arrogance? From such great joy they fell into great sadness and into great torments. Whatever happened to them can happen to you, for you are human, and the human being is made from mud, from slime, from earth, and you will return to earth. When the last day will come, you do not know. It will come suddenly, and perhaps it will be today or tomorrow. It is certain that you will die; it is uncertain when or how or where. And since death awaits you everywhere, you also, if you are wise, will await it everywhere. These are the words of blessed Bernard. Then Blessed Gregory says: "Nothing is more certain than death, and nothing is more uncertain than the hour of death." Since, therefore, you know that you will die soon, hold yourself always in all changing things humbly, patiently, and prudently, as one who is about to die, and say: "These things did not move Christ, who was about to die, nor should they move you, whether they are harsh or adverse." Treat every day as if it were your last. Hence, Ecclesiastes 6 says: "In all your works, remember your last ends, and you will never sin." Also, Jerome says: "It is easy to despise all things if one thinks daily that one is about to die." And let this suffice regarding the memory of death. Now, returning to the proposition, it must be considered that the good make a vigil here in mourning, and therefore they will arrive at the feast of eternal joy. And although the first of the holy men may seem to have much harshness, it must be lightened by considering the immensity of such glory. Therefore, let him who wishes to enjoy eternal good act vigilantly. To which the Savior exhorts us in Matthew, chapter 3, saying,