I was intrigued by TAN’s choice of Meditations on Death by Thomas a Kempis for its 2023 Book of the Year. The title catapulted me back to my teenage years, reading Flannery O’Conner’s humorous short story, The Life You Save May Be Your Own.
A Coffin for a Bed?
It’s a tale about two people who each want something very badly – specifically, an automobile and a son-in-law. Shiftlet, the young drifter who has cast a covetous eye on the car own by Mrs. Lucynell, eagerly takes up her offer to sleep in said car while he does odd jobs on the farm in exchange for food.
“Why listen, lady,” he says to her, “The monks of old slept in their coffins!” Her lackluster reply? “They wasn’t as advanced as we are.”
It’s too bad she didn’t think more deeply about this ancient practice, which the modern world calls macabre, but I would call downright honest. In his latter years, the humble Saint Tikhon of Russia kept a simple wooden coffin in his cell, using it often for short naps. Monks in Romania were familiar with this practice as well.
So what was the point? In a nutshell, Genesis 3:19. “For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” No one can deny the reality of death, and no one knows the hour that He will come. Keeping one’s ultimate end in mind is like having one foot in Heaven already, acknowledging that everything around you is passing away.
It’s not surprising that the same humans who put off things like dental scalings and civics exams can be found procrastinating when it comes to putting their spiritual houses in order. We all want to become better people, but so much effort is required. Sigh….can we think about that tomorrow instead?
Can I Wait Until Tomorrow?
There’s a Catholic saint who would have answered that plea with a resounding NO. The legend of Saint Expeditus goes something like this. As a young Roman soldier, he began to consider joining the Christians, that “class hated for their abominations” (to use the words of pagan historian Tacitus). This was no easy move and the Devil took advantage of his hesitation by taking on the form of a crow which constantly nagged Expeditus to put off his conversion until tomorrow. Pricked by his conscience and newfound faith, the young soldier eventually stomped his foot upon the wretched bird and declared he would accept Christ TODAY. This is why in representations he holds aloft a cross inscribed with the Latin word “Hodie,” meaning today. Sometimes the black bird appears as well, holding a scroll which reads “cras” or tomorrow.
Not surprisingly, Saint Expeditus is a beloved patron of those who struggle with procrastination, for for those who desire a speedy resolution to problems.
A Vitally Important Book for the New Year
The folks at TAN Books recently shared by they chose this particular work. “We have selected Meditations on Death: Preparing for Eternity as our next Book of the Year. Not only is this another book by Venerable Thomas a Kempis, but this is the first time it has ever been available in English…One of the devil’s favorite words is “tomorrow.” But God’s is “today.”
I received a copy from TAN as a gift and wanted to share with you just what a marvelous book this is! Spiritual master Thomas à Kempis writes “My advice is to live as if you could die at any moment and to live each day as if it could be your last.”
NOW is always a great time to live with eternity in mind. You don’t want to be caught off guard and unprepared! The author writes again, “Death often arrives with no or little warning, coming like a thief in the night or a descending upon us unexpectedly, like a falcon swooping upon a hapless dove. Often it arrives on the occasion you least expect it, and at the time when you are least prepared for it. Very often death comes to a person when he still expects to have much longer to live…”
Translated from the original Latin, this English edition is divided into three main parts: Reflections on Last Things, A Discourse in the Person of a Sinner About to Die, and Canticles to Heaven. A lot of ground is covered in this small book, including topics like:
- How to combat vice by being mindful of death
- Why time is something that never should be wasted
- Why procrastinating about getting your act together is a terrible idea
- Thinking about your own death is healthy, not morbid
- Hell is real, and it’s awful.
What make this book even more distinctive are the beautiful typeface and vintage illustrations.
My favorite canticle is this one, which inspires us to keep our eyes on the prize! The line about angels singing their hearts out “with all the joy that love inspires” perfectly captures the boundless joy of being near to our beloved God in Heaven.
Every customer who purchases Meditations on Death: Preparing for Eternity will receive FREE meditation emails delivered to their inbox, which will help them plumb the depths of this book even more.
Sales and Promotions at TAN
Did you forget to pick up a calendar or planner for 2023? TAN has a beautiful line of calendars to keep you focused on spiritual realities throughout the coming year. Their wall calendars and planners are lavishly illustrated with religious artwork and contain important details like saint feast days, rules for fasting and abstinence, liturgical practices and fascinating facts about holy traditions.
All calendars and planners are on sale for just $1.00 until February 16th.
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