Dead men do tell tales
Updated: Nov 17, 2022
Photo by Hugo Clément on Unsplash
What will they find in my pocket when I die?
What will they find in your purse or wallet when you do?
Dead men's clothes do tell tales. Blaise Pascal is one. Luther another.
When Blaise Pascal died, a piece of parchment was found sewn into his clothing. It appears that he carried it with him all the time. What was written on it?
The year of grace 1654....
From about half past ten in the evening until half past midnight.
Fire
"God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob," not of philosophers and scholars.
Certainty, certainty, heartfelt, joy, peace.
God of Jesus Christ.
God of Jesus Christ.
My God and your God.
"Thy God shall be my God."
The world forgotten, and everything except God.
He can only be found by the ways taught in the Gospels.
Greatness of the human soul.
"O righteous Father, the world had not known thee, but I have known thee."
Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.
I have cut myself off from him.
They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters.
"My God wilt thou forsake me?"
Let me not be cut off from him for ever!
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent."
Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ.
I have cut myself off from him, shunned him, denied him, crucified him!
He can only be kept by the ways taught in the Gospel.
Sweet and total renunciation.
Total submission to Jesus Christ and my [spiritual] director.
Everlasting joy in return for one day's effort on earth.
I will not forget thy word. Amen.
On his death bed, a piece of paper was found in Martin Luther's pocket. Among other words on it were these in his own handwriting: “This is true. We are all beggars."
What will they find in my pocket when I die?
What will they find in your purse or wallet when you do?
Starting today, I'm carrying Pascal's words on me.
For those interested in knowing more about the brilliant, but very sickly, Frenchman here at two links: