The contrast is striking.
Excerpts from the last will and testaments of Jonathan Edwards (start at page 438) and Pope John Paul II (emphasis mine).
Pope John Paul II:
""Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming" (cf. Mt 24, 42) - these words remind me of the last call, which will happen at the moment the Lord wishes. I desire to follow Him, and I desire that everything making up part of my earthly life should prepare me for this moment. I do not know when the moment will come, but like everything else, I place it too in the hands of the Mother of my Master: Totus Tuus. In the same maternal Hands I leave everything and everyone with whom my life and vocation have linked me. In these Hands I leave, above all, the Church, as well as my Nation and all humanity."
"Today I wish to add only this: that each of us must bear in mind the prospect of death. And must be ready to present himself before the Lord and Judge - Who is at the same time Redeemer and Father. I too continually take this into consideration, entrusting that decisive moment to the Mother of Christ and of the Church - to the Mother of my hope."
"Once again, I wish to entrust myself totally to the Lord's grace. He Himself will decide when and how I must end my earthly life and pastoral ministry. In life and in death, Totus Tuus in Mary Immaculate."
"All the more deeply I now feel that I am totally in the Hands of God - and I remain continually at the disposal of my Lord, entrusting myself to Him in His Immaculate Mother (Totus Tuus)"
----------------------------------------------------------------
Jonathan Edwards
"And first of all, I give and commend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, and to the Lord Jesus Christ it's glorious, al-sufficient, faithful & chosen Redeemer, relying alone on the free and infinite Mercy & Grace of God through his worthiness & mediation for its eternal salvation; And my Body I commend to the Earth to be committed to the Dust in decent Christian Burial, at the Discretion of my Executrix hereafter named; hoping through the Grace, Faithfulness, and almighty Power of my everlasting Redeemer, to receive the same again at the last day, made like unto his Glorious Body."
(HT: Feeding on Christ)
No comments:
Post a Comment