Vigils Reading – Office for the Dead

THE MOMENT OF DEATH
from the Desert Sayings of Abba Theophilus

Abba Theophilus said: “What fear, what trembling, what uneasiness will there be for us when our soul is separated from the body. Then indeed the force and strength of the adverse powers come against us, the rulers of darkness, those who command the world of evil, the principalities, the powers, the spirits of evil. They accuse our souls as in a lawsuit, bringing before it all the sins it has committed, whether deliberately or through ignorance, from its youth until the time when it has been taken away. So they stand accusing it of all it has done. Furthermore, what anxiety do you suppose the soul will have at that hour, until sentence is pronounced and it gains its liberty. That is its hour of affliction, until it sees what will happen to it. On the other hand, the divine powers stand on the opposite side, and they present the good deeds of the soul. Consider the fear and trembling of the soul standing between them until in judgment it receives the sentence of the righteous judge. If it is judged worthy, the demons will receive their punishment, and it will be carried away by the angels. Then thereafter you will be without disquiet, or rather you will live according to that which is written: ‘Even as the habitation of those who rejoice is in you.’ Then will the Scripture be fulfilled: ‘Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.’

Then your liberated soul will go on to that joy and ineffable glory in which it will be established. But if it is found to have lived carelessly, it will hear that terrible voice: ‘Take away the ungodly, that he may not see the glory of the Lord.’ Then the day of anger, the day of affliction, the day of darkness and shadow seizes upon it. Abandoned to outer darkness and condemned to everlasting fire it will be punished through the ages without end. Where then is the vanity of the world? Where is vainglory? Where is carnal life? Where are enjoyments? Where is imagination?

Where is ease? Where is boasting? Riches? Nobility? Father, mother, brother? Who could take the soul out of its pains when it is burning in the fire, and remove it from bitter torments?

Since this is so, in what manner ought we not to give ourselves to holy and devout works? What love ought we to acquire? What manner of life? What virtues? What speed? What diligence? What prayer? What prudence? Scripture says: ‘In this waiting, let us make every effort to be found blameless and without reproach in peace.’ In this way, we shall be worthy to hear it said: ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

THE SAYINGS OF THE DESERT FATHERS, trans. by Benedicta Ward, SLG (Cistercian Publ. USA, 1984) pp. 81-82.