Strike the Tent!

Thomas a'Kempis finishes his meditation on death and dying by calling us to discipline ourselves in a way that causes no regrets.  His call is for disentanglement from our materialism and other worldly attachments....so we are ready for death, no matter how it comes to us.  This is something Blessed Pope John Paul (the Great) called us to regularly during his ministry.

After a short chastisement on our foolish and childish and unreasonable expectations that nothing ill will befall us, Thomas provides a short list of the daily obituaries, telling the various and mostly unexpected ways in which people die suddenly.

Because of this, Good Thomas then calls us into imitating the way of the saints (who are Imitators of Christ), since we cannot be sure who will intercede for us after we are gone. We must prepare our own way.

Ending with a prayer, Thomas tells us that it's ok to mourn our own passing so long as we don't try to hang on - we need to stay free and lifted up so when God calls us home, we will gladly leave this mortal coil.


Gen. Lee


"Strike the Tent" (Purported last words of General Robert E. Lee).

Book 1, Chapter 23, Paragraphs 6-9.
6. Oh, my dearly beloved, if only you would live in apprehension and in expectation of death – you would free yourself from danger and great fear! Strive now to live in such a way that in the hour of death you may rejoice rather than fear. Learn now to die to the world, so you can begin to live with Christ (Rom 6:8). Learn now to condemn all worldly things; then you may freely go to Christ. Keep your body disciplined by penitence, and then you shall be able to have a sure confidence (1 Cor 9:27).

7. Ah, fool! why do you think that you shall live long, when you are not even sure of a single day (Lk 12:20)? How many have been fooled, and suddenly have been snatched away! How many times have you heard how this one was slain by the sword, another was drowned, another falling from on high broke his neck, another died at the table, another while at play! One died by fire, another by the sword, another by pestilence, another by a robber. Thus comes death to all, and life swiftly passes away like a shadow (Eccs 7:1).

Who will light a
Candle for you?

8. Who will remember you after your death? And who will intercede for you? Work, work now, oh dearly beloved, work all that you can. For you do not know when you shall die, nor what shall happen to you after death. While you have time, lay up for yourself eternal riches (Matt 6:20-21). Think of nothing but your salvation; care only for the things of God. Make heavenly friends by venerating the saints of God and walking in their steps, that when you fail, you may be received into everlasting life (Lk 16:9).

Vatican City

9. Keep yourself as a stranger and a pilgrim upon the earth, to whom the things of the world do not belong (Ex 2:22). Keep your heart free and lifted up towards God, for here we do not have a lasting abode (Heb 13:14). Send to Him your daily prayers with sighs and tears, that after death your spirit may be found worthy to pass happily unto our Lord. Amen.

Until next time, when we will open chapter 24 on Judgment, thanks for reading and praying along with me.

Be imitators of Christ!
tim