Daily Dying Takes the Place of Final Death.
Daily dying, or bearing our crosses, is essential for overcoming our fears of final death and living a life of lowliness and neighborly love.
Francois Fenelon emphasizes the concept of daily dying as a means to prepare for the final death. He highlights the importance of bearing our crosses, with self being the greatest one, and the need to rid ourselves of selfishness by learning to tolerate and support ourselves and others. Fenelon encourages daily self-reflection and humility to diminish the fear of death and anxieties driven by self-love, ultimately leading to a peaceful acceptance of the final transition.
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LETTER XXXV.
Daily dying takes the place of final death.
We must bear our crosses; self is the greatest of them; we are not entirely rid of it until we can tolerate ourselves as simply and patiently as we do our neighbor. If we die in part every day of our lives, we shall have but little to do on the last. What we so much dread in the future will cause us no fear when it comes, if we do not suffer its terrors to be exaggerated by the restless anxieties of self-love. Bear with yourself, and consent in all lowliness to be supported by your neighbor. O how utterly will these little daily deaths destroy the power of the final dying!
Sermon Outline
- The Necessity of Daily Dying
- We must bear our crosses
- Self is the greatest cross
- Daily dying is essential for final death
Key Quotes
“We must bear our crosses; self is the greatest of them; we are not entirely rid of it until we can tolerate ourselves as simply and patiently as we do our neighbor.” — Francois Fenelon
Application Points
- We must learn to bear our crosses, including the greatest cross of self, in order to live a life of humility and lowliness.
- By consenting to be supported by our neighbor, we can overcome our fears of final death and live a life of peace and contentment.
- Daily dying is essential for destroying the power of the final dying and living a life of freedom from the anxieties of self-love.