Remembering our own mortality is an invaluable practice that produces great spiritual reward. Such meditation prepares us for the ultimate event: our entrance into eternity.
"Remember, O mortal, that you are dust, and to dust, you shall return."
Throughout history, many souls, upon meditating on their mortality, have forsaken the temporary pleasures of this world. Through contemplating death, numerous individuals have conquered the desires of the flesh. It is through the meditation on death that many have ascended the ladder of holiness.
Keeping the reality of death constantly before our eyes is one of the greatest secrets to sanctity, as death is the only certainty in this existence. Those who daily ponder the approaching hour of their death will not be caught off guard when that moment arrives. Instead, they will have spent their entire lives in preparation, ready to meet their Creator.
"Meditations on Death" serves as a poignant reminder of the brevity of our earthly journey and the paramount importance of living with an eternal perspective. It invites readers to cultivate purity of mind, embrace the cross of Christ, and place their hope and trust in God alone. Through these meditations, Thomas Kempis illuminates the path to preparing our souls for the eternity that awaits us.