Dear Ascended Lord, give us Your grace -
that we may be spared on that tearful day!
______________________________
Lacrimosa [Dies Irae]
Requiem dla mojego przyjaciela
Zbigniew Preisner
"My Son, pay diligent heed to the motions of Nature and of Grace, because they move in a very contrary and subtle manner, and are hardly distinguished save by a spiritual and inwardly enlightened man. All men indeed seek good, and make pretence of something good in all that they say or do; and thus under the appearance of good many are deceived.
"Nature is deceitful and draweth away, ensnareth, and deceiveth many, and always hath self for her end; but Grace walketh in simplicity and turneth away from every appearance of evil, maketh no false pretences, and doeth all entirely for the sake of God, in whom also she finally resteth.
"Nature is very unwilling to die, and to be pressed down, and to be overcome, and to be in subjection, and to bear the yoke readily; but Grace studieth self-mortification, resisteth sensuality, seeketh to be subdued, longeth to be conquered, and willeth not to use her own liberty. She loveth to be held by discipline, and not to have authority over any, but always to live, to remain, to have her being under God, and for God's sake is ready to be humbly subject to every ordinance of man.
"Nature laboureth for her own advantage, and considereth what profit she may gain from another; but Grace considereth more, not what may be useful and convenient to self, but what may be profitable to the many.
"Nature willingly receiveth honour and reverence; but Grace faithfully ascribeth all honour and glory to God.
"Nature feareth confusion and contempt, but Grace rejoiceth to suffer shame for the name of Jesus.
...
This Grace is a supernatural light, and a certain special gift of God, and the proper mark of the elect, and the pledge of eternal salvation; it exalteth a man from earthly things to love those that are heavenly; and it maketh the carnal man spiritual. So far therefore as Nature is utterly pressed down and overcome, so far is greater Grace bestowed and the inner man is daily created anew by fresh visitations, after the image of God.
The Imitation of Christ, III, LIV
[Note: Yes, The Tree of Life (source of the image and piece of music above) is a difficult, but profound and deeply moving, motion picture. Thanks to the Abbé G. de Tanoüarn for recommending it.]
