Preparing Souls

Aptemus itaque animos ad futuram gloriam quae reposita est nobis, et praeponamus terrenis coelestia; ut possimus illa aeternae vitae promissa contingere. Nemo autem sibi de hujus mundi ambitione blandiatur, quem videt in diem deficere accessu aetatis et temporis. Si comparemus denique aeternis praesentia, satis vilia et inutilia constat esse quae temporaliter possidemus. Require denique gratiam debitae haereditatis, et intelligis hujus mundi divitias displicere, ac judicas nihil auro obscurius, nihil argenti splendore sordidius. In comparatione autem paradisi, vitro similis est gemma pretiosior. Ita est enim hujus lucis et furturi temporis dignitas, ac si stante in coelo luna oculis hominum radius se matutinalis infuderit. Tamdiu enim placet lunare commercium, quamdiu tenebrosae nocti constitutis legibus praestat officium: quae quamvis placeat candore nocturni luminis, obscuratur tamen supervenientis sideris claritate melioris. Hoc est solum quod tempora praesentis vitae commendet, si ea agimus quae futuro judicio non subjaceant accusationi, nec possint accusata convinci. Sanctus Valerianus Cemeliensis, Homilia XV, De Bono Martyrii Source: Migne PL 52.739a-c

Let us prepare our souls for the future glory that is stored up for us, and prefer heavenly things to worldly things, that we be able to obtain the promises of eternal life. Let no one seduce himself with the pursuit of this world, which with the passing of time and the age he sees fading away each day. If we compare present things to eternal things, those which we possess for a time become quite vile and useless. Then look to the grace of the inheritance due to us and you will understand how the riches of this world displease, and you will judge nothing to be more base than gold, nothing more foul than the splendour of silver. In comparison with paradise, a precious gem is like glass. Such is the value of the light of this life and of the future age, as if with the moon standing in the heavens the morning's rays should pour into the eyes of men. The moon pleases for business just so long as it gives service in the dark of night fixed by laws, but although nocturnal illumination may please, it is obscured by the brightness of the rising of the superior luminary. This alone commends the time of the present life, if we do that which will not come under accusation in the future judgement, and cannot be convicted if accused. Saint Valerian of Cimelium, from Homily 15, On The Good Of Martydom