Help us thereto, O Virgin Mother, and you, O holy guardian angels.
As Peter was convicted by the servants of being a disciple of Christ. I cannot represent to myself better the sinner convicted of having led a vicious and criminal life than by considering the case of the apostle Peter in the court of the high-priest warming himself with the servants at the fire. How he must have been embarrassed! A servant-maid who attended the door was the first to attack him: “Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilean. But he denied before them all, saying: I know not what thou sayest.”[1] A little later the servants came to him and said: “Art not thou also one of His disciples?” But Peter kept fast to his denial: “He denied it and said: I am not:” I know not the man, nor what you are speaking of. At last one came to him saying: “Did not I see thee in the garden with Him?”[2] There Peter was caught, and as it so happened the cock crew and he escaped.
So shall the sinner be convicted on that day Sinner! there you have a picture of what shall one day happen to you; but with this difference, that you will not, like Peter, be able to seek safety in flight. You will then be publicly accused of all your crimes, not merely before a few servants, but in the presence of all in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; and your accusers shall surround you in countless numbers, as we have seen in our last meditation. Are you not the man, they will say, the wretch who did, said, or thought this or that contrary to the law of the great God? Try now if you can to deny the charge; say: I am not; I know not what you are speaking of; I am innocent; and see if your efforts at deceit will be as successful then as they oftentimes are now when you hide your wickedness from the knowledge of men.
Of the sins he committed with others. Those countless witnesses will cry out against you: “Did not I see thee?” Was I not present while you were actually committing the sin? Such shall be the evidence of all your companions and co-operators in sin, and they shall testify to the crimes you committed with others. Did not I see thee? Were we not together in that house, that room, that garden, that deserted street, that hidden corner, on that day, that night when we did that wicked act together? Did not I see thee, proud man? Can I not prove that you wished to be more thought of
