Mirror of Sinners on the Contempt of the World

there will be no need for friendships; the kingdom is not lost; there nothing will be lacking that one desires, nothing will be desired that is not present. Likewise, Augustinus Saint Augustine says of these same celestial joys: "O beautiful city; and Christ will be the food of the soul, that it may not hunger; drink, that it may not thirst; life, that old age may not dissolve it; no internal disease, no external fear; there will be health in the flesh, tranquility in the mind, joy in the soul." Bernardus Bernard of Clairvaux agrees: "All rejoice because of the desirable appearance: beautiful in face, sweet to behold; in Himself He pleases, in Himself He suffices for the reward; nothing outside of Him is sought that is not found in Him, because all that is desired is in Him." Augustinus Saint Augustine says: "He is the end of our desires, who will be seen without end, loved without weariness, praised without fatigue." And to conclude many things in few words, hear Bernardus Bernard of Clairvaux saying this: "There is true joy, full knowledge, there is all plenitude of knowledge, all beauty, blessedness; there is peace, piety, goodness, light, virtue, honesty, gladness, joy, sweetness, life, salvation, glory, rest, love, and whatever good can be imagined is found there."

If, therefore, the lovers of the world themselves desire to possess these joys, let them hear the Lord saying: "Flee from Babilon Babylon, and let each one save his own soul."

Babylon

According to Hieronimus Saint Jerome, Babilon Babylon is interpreted as the house of confusion, and it directly signifies this world, where, alas, confusion now reigns everywhere in the world, as we see clearly in immodest dress and in other infinite abuses, which experience teaches better than can be written or said. Therefore, flight from this age is the most valid remedy against vices and sins. To this flight, the Lord exhorts us in the aforementioned word where He says: "Flee from Babylon," etc. Bernardus Bernard of Clairvaux follows up on this word, saying: "Flee from Babylon, that is, from this wicked age, where chastity is endangered in delights, humility in riches, truth in excessive speech, and so on." Where, then, should one flee? I think to the religious life, which is a safer life or path to the narrow way that leads to the celestial fatherland. However, speaking more broadly, by Babylon can be understood the state of the sinner.