Memento Mori

The Memento Mori devotion, rooted in Catholic tradition, serves as a poignant reminder of the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life. Its essence, “Remember that you must die”, invites the faithful to reflect on mortality, encouraging humility and perspective in a world often distracted by the trivial. Rather than a morbid fixation, this devotion fosters a purposeful life, emphasizing virtues that lead to spiritual growth. A life built around the principle of Memento Mori transforms the contemplation of death into a pathway toward eternal life, urging individuals to seek a deeper relationship with the divine and to live in alignment with the enduring truths of faith.

"Death is hideous. But the life beyond the grave that the mercy of God will give us is very desirable. We must by no means lose confidence. For, though we are sinners, we are still far from being as bad as God is merciful and ready to forgive those who repent, who have a will to amend, and who place their hope in Jesus Christ. Death is no longer ignominious, but glorious, since the Son of God has undergone it. For this reason, the Blessed Virgin and all the saints have considered it an advantage to die, in imitation of the Savior, who allowed himself, of his own free consent, to be nailed to the Cross. For death has become, through Jesus Christ, so sweet and amiable, that the angels would regard themselves happy if they could have the privilege of enduring it."

Saint Francis de Sales

"Death's name is terrible. Usually when it is spoken, someone says: "Your dear father is dead," or "your son is dead." This is not well said among Christians. We should say, "Your son or your father has gone to his country and to yours; and because necessity required it, he passed by the way of death, in which he lingered not." I certainly do not know how we can regard as our country this world, in which we remain for so short a time, compared with heaven, in which we shall dwell forever. Let us go forward then, and be more assured of the presence of our dear friends who are above, than of those who are here below.... And if the departure of a sweet soul causes the remains of sadness to still weigh down your mind, then cast yourself on your knees before the heart of our crucified Savior and ask his assistance. He will give it to you and will inspire you with the thought and the resolution to prepare yourself well to make the same passage when it is your turn, and at the appointed hour when you may happily arrive at the place where we should hope our poor but blessed deceased are now safely lodged."

Saint Francis de Sales

"I know what is for my benefit. Now I begin to be a disciple. And let nothing visible or invisible prevent me from attaining Jesus Christ. Let fire and the Cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of limbs; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain Jesus Christ. All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, will profit me nothing. It is better for me to die on behalf of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth.... My love has been crucified, and there is no fire in me desiring to be fed; but there is within me a water that lives and speaks, saying to me inwardly, "Come to the Father." I have no delight in corruptible food, or in the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, from the seed of David and Abraham. And I desire the drink of God, namely his Blood, which is incorruptible love and eternal life."

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans

"If anyone here is a slave of sin, let that person promptly prepare through faith for the new birth into freedom and adoption. And having put off the miserable bond age of sin, and taken on the most blessed bondage of the Lord, so may that person be counted worthy to Inherit the kingdom of heaven. Put off, by confession, the old self, which waxes corrupt after the lusts of deceit, that you may put on the new self.... Now is the season of confession: confess what you have done in word or in deed, by night or by day, confess in an acceptable time, and in the day of salvation receive the heavenly treasure.... Blot out from your mind all earthly care: for you are running for your soul. You are utterly forsaking the things of the world: little are the things which you are forsaking and great what the Lord gives. Forsake things present and put your trust in things to come. Have you not run so many circles of years busied by the vain things of the world, and have you not forty days to be free (for prayer), for your own soul's sake? Be still, and know that i am God. Scripture says. Excuse yourself from idle words: neither gossip, nor lend a willing ear to gossipers; but rather be prompt to prayer. Show in ascetic exercise that your heart is courageous. Cleanse your vessel, that you may receive grace more abundantly.

For though remission of sins is given equally to all the communion of the Holy Spirit is bestowed in proportion to each person's faith. If you have labored little, you receive little; but if you have wrought much, the reward is great. You are running for yourself, see to your own interest.... Wrestle for your soul, especially in days such as these."

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 1