Memento Mori! (Remember your Death!)

The concept in the title isn’t only a Christian thing to do. It’s a human thing to do.

In the Phaedo, Socrates famously encouraged reflection on your own personal mortality, and what kind of life you are living: just or unjust. For if life continues after death, and if perfect justice really exists, a “settling of accounts” will have to take place: ultimate justice in another world. It is obvious that justice does not exist in this world; people die “ahead” and “behind” all the time.

What could be more important than to have a clean soul and to have paid your debts before you die? You only get one shot. Good old-fashioned “Catholic guilt,” has its place and purpose then, because guilt is real, like justice and mercy. But if you think God’s mercy means that he is not also just you’ve misunderstood how they relate. Mercy is precisely what God does not owe anyone, justice is.

The following song/prayer is traditionally sung at Catholic Masses today.

1	Dies iræ, dies illa Solvet sæclum in favilla, Teste David cum Sibylla.	Day of wrath and doom impending. David’s word with Sibyl’s blending, Heaven and earth in ashes ending.	The day of wrath, that day will dissolve the world in ashes, David being witness along with the Sibyl.
2	Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando Judex est venturus, Cuncta stricte discussurus!	Oh, what fear man’s bosom rendeth, When from heaven the Judge descendeth, On whose sentence all dependeth.	How great will be the quaking, when the Judge will come, investigating everything strictly.
3	Tuba mirum spargens sonum, Per sepulchra regionum, Coget omnes ante thronum.	Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth; Through earth’s sepulchres it ringeth; All before the throne it bringeth.	The trumpet, scattering a wondrous sound through the sepulchres of the regions, will summon all before the throne.
4	Mors stupebit et natura, Cum resurget creatura, Judicanti responsura.	Death is struck, and nature quaking, All creation is awaking, To its Judge an answer making.	Death and nature will marvel, when the creature will rise again, to respond to the Judge.
5	Liber scriptus proferetur, In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus judicetur.	Lo, the book, exactly worded, Wherein all hath been recorded, Thence shall judgement be awarded.	The written book will be brought forth, in which all is contained, from which the world shall be judged.
6	Judex ergo cum sedebit, Quidquid latet apparebit: Nil inultum remanebit.	When the Judge his seat attaineth, And each hidden deed arraigneth, Nothing unavenged remaineth.	When therefore the Judge will sit, whatever lies hidden will appear: nothing will remain unpunished.
7	Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus, Cum vix justus sit securus?	What shall I, frail man, be pleading? Who for me be interceding, When the just are mercy needing?	What then will I, poor wretch [that I am], say? Which patron will I entreat, when [even] the just may [only] hardly be sure?
8	Rex tremendæ majestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis.	King of Majesty tremendous, Who dost free salvation send us, Fount of pity, then befriend us!	King of fearsome majesty, Who freely savest those that are to be saved, save me, O font of mercy.
9	Recordare, Jesu pie, Quod sum causa tuæ viæ: Ne me perdas illa die.	Think, kind Jesu! – my salvation Caused Thy wondrous Incarnation; Leave me not to reprobation.	Remember, merciful Jesus, that I am the cause of Thy way: lest Thou lose me in that day.
10	Quærens me, sedisti lassus: Redemisti Crucem passus: Tantus labor non sit cassus.	Faint and weary, Thou hast sought me, On the Cross of suffering bought me. Shall such grace be vainly brought me?	Seeking me, Thou sattest tired: Thou redeemedst [me], having suffered the Cross: let not so much hardship be in vain.
11	Juste Judex ultionis, Donum fac remissionis, Ante diem rationis.	Righteous Judge, for sin’s pollution Grant Thy gift of absolution, Ere the day of retribution.	Just Judge of vengeance, make a gift of remission before the day of reckoning.
12	Ingemisco, tamquam reus: Culpa rubet vultus meus: Supplicanti parce, Deus.	Guilty, now I pour my moaning, All my shame with anguish owning; Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning!	I sigh, like the guilty one: my face reddens in guilt: Spare the supplicating one, O God.
13	Qui Mariam absolvisti, Et latronem exaudisti, Mihi quoque spem dedisti.	Through the sinful woman shriven, Through the dying thief forgiven, Thou to me a hope hast given.	Thou who absolvedst Mary, and heardest the robber, gavest hope to me, too.
14	Preces meæ non sunt dignæ; Sed tu bonus fac benigne, Ne perenni cremer igne.	Worthless are my prayers and sighing, Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, Rescue me from fires undying.	My prayers are not worthy: but do Thou, [who art] good, graciously grant that I not be burned up by the everlasting fire.
15	Inter oves locum præsta. Et ab hædis me sequestra, Statuens in parte dextra.	With Thy sheep a place provide me, From the goats afar divide me, To Thy right hand do Thou guide me.	Grant me a place among the sheep, and take me out from among the goats, setting me on the right side.
16	Confutatis maledictis, Flammis acribus addictis, Voca me cum benedictis.	When the wicked are confounded, Doomed to flames of woe unbounded, Call me with Thy saints surrounded.	Once the cursed have been silenced, sentenced to acrid flames: Call Thou me with the blessed.
17	Oro supplex et acclinis, Cor contritum quasi cinis, Gere curam mei finis.	Low I kneel, with heart’s submission, See, like ashes, my contrition, Help me in my last condition.	[Humbly] kneeling and bowed I pray, [my] heart crushed as ashes: take care of my end.
18	Lacrimosa dies illa, Qua resurget ex favilla, Judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus:	Ah! that day of tears and mourning, From the dust of earth returning Man for judgement must prepare him, Spare, O God, in mercy spare him.	Tearful [will be] that day, on which from the glowing embers will arise the guilty man who is to be judged. Then spare him, O God.
19	Pie Jesu Domine, Dona eis requiem. Amen.	Lord, all-pitying, Jesus blest, Grant them Thine eternal rest. Amen.	Merciful Lord Jesus, grant them rest. Amen

Feel free to leave a comment below, especially on the relationship between justice and mercy.

Happy Halloween!

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