Chapter XIV — That entrance through the gate, however narrow, is necessary if a man would be saved

But whether that gate be wide or narrow, we must strive with all our might to enter by it: for after this life, which flees away like a shadow, there is no other place where we can fare well save within this gate. For this reason the Lord exhorts us, saying: "Strive to enter by the narrow gate" (Luke 13:24); for as He Himself adds in the same place, all who remain outside will be dragged away to those places where there is everlasting weeping and continual gnashing of teeth — which signifies the greatest pains together with despair of remedy; whence arises a frenzy that impatiently endures what it would not wish to endure and will always be forced to endure. How much better it would be to strive to enter by the narrow gate, where, after a little labor or pain endured, rest and delight are found! And if men could escape both the straits of the gate and the pains of hell at once, perhaps the frailty or weakness of those who dared not force their way through the straits of that gate might be excused: but since it is necessary either to labor here for a time in forcing one's way, or to fall into perpetual labors and pains, where is the judgment, where the reason, that would dictate fleeing lesser and briefer straits only to come to intolerable and most grievous ones? But even if no straits were to follow after this life, but only the loss of the House of God, where there are everlasting joys, this alone ought to move us to enter gladly not only through the straits of the gate, but even through thorns and briars, yes, through iron and fire. And although in this life we do not feel what it is to be deprived of beatitude; yet after the soul's separation from the body the eyes of the mind will be opened, so that they may see most clearly how great a loss — indeed, how infinite a loss — it is not to attain the last end for which we were created. And this desire is signified by those words recorded in the Gospel, repeated by those who, shut out, remain outside: "Lord, Lord, open to us" (Matt. 25:11). For the desire of the last end will always torment the wretched, and the remorse of conscience will never rest, and that word will be fulfilled: "Their worm dieth not, and their fire is not extinguished" (Mark 9:47). O if we could now seriously ponder with what feeling those men will say: "Lord, Lord, open to us" (Matt. 25:11)! As though they were saying: "Without entrance into that House we cannot live, yet it is not granted us to die. And so we live, not that we may live, but that we may be forever most wretched. Therefore open to us, for we are ready to suffer any straits of torment whatsoever, provided we may enter." But the answer will come: "I know you not. The year of jubilee has ended: when you could enter, you would not; now therefore it has come about that when you wish to enter, you cannot." Thus those shut out without any remedy will nevertheless never cease to cry, goaded by natural desire: "Lord, Lord, open to us." But they who in this life were deaf to the Lord's exhortations concerning the narrow gate will then cry out to the deaf ears of the Lord: "Lord, Lord, open to us." Wherefore, if we have any wisdom, let us now provide for our affairs while we have time. Let us do now, while we may, what then without any hesitation we shall long with our whole heart to do, or to have done, and it will not be permitted.