Catholic Church: “O just Judge, forgive me my sins before the day of reckoning comes!”[1] If I have transgressed and transgressed of ten and grievously, so that Thou hast just cause to condemn me, still Thy goodness is infinite, so that Thou canst heal me and save me! Now while there is time for amendment I will make friends with my Judge by earnest, sincere repentance, by a thorough change of life, by true humility, by renouncing all vain earthly joys, and by the diligent practice of good works; so that when I shall one day see Him coming in great power and majesty, I shall have more reason to rejoice than to dread His strict justice. Amen.
Another introduction to the same sermon for the first Sunday of Advent.
Text.
Tunc videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nube cum potestate magna, et majestate.—Luke xxi. 27.
“Then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty.”
Introduction.
Terrible shall be the coming of the incarnate Son of God on that day of judgment! Signs shall be seen in the sun, moon, and stars; the swollen sea shall fill all hearts with dread by its roaring and rushing waves; men shall wither away with fear! But all that does not frighten me. These things are mere forerunners of the general fear that is to follow. “Then they shall see the Son of man coming with great power and majesty;” that is the sole cause of the dismay that fills my mind. With reason does the Church sing, etc. Continues as above.
THIRTY-FIRST SERMON.
ON THE JUDGE AS MAN.
Subject.
He who will judge us is Jesus Christ, a Man like unto us; but He is not less to be feared by the sinner on that account: 1, because the Man who will judge us shall then be quite
- ↑ Juste Judex ultionis, donum fac remissionis, ante diem rationis!
