Notes from Pascal on the Day Before - Fire!

As an aside before the main body of what follows, I'd just like to put out there that these last couple days I'm just loving what I see about the person and work of Christ on FaceBook.  Apparently there's a good use for social networking after all!

Blaise Pascal (June 19, 1623 – August 19, 1662) is generally and I think rightly considered to be among the most brilliant people to ever walk the earth.  He accomplished more deep work in extremely diverse fields of study than maybe anyone ever.

If you google "Pascal," you'll find his name either preceding or following any number of laws and principles in mathematics, physics, theology and others.  (He's credited by some with inventing modern public transit in Paris in the 1600's.)

His life mimicked that of a few other great men.  Short version:  1) Early years were those of an extreme playboy (think "Dangerous Liasons") and then beginning in his mid 20's 2) the life of a passionate and even dogged follower of Christ.  T.S. Eliot would much later describe his life at this point as "a man of the world among ascetics, and an ascetic among men of the world."

In his 31st year he had an encounter with God.  It was staggering in beauty and magnitude.  Interestingly, it was known to no one until after Pascal died.  At that time, his servant happened to find a folded up piece of paper in a coat that Pascal wore constantly.  Eventually, another copy in Pascal's hand was found elsewhere.  There were minor differences between the two but they were identical in character.

Following is one transcription of what Pascal wrote.  I can never read more than a few lines of any translation of this anymore without breaking down.  Blaise and I and hopefully you have this in common:  we know the same God.  Following is an ebeneezer of Pascal's life and love of Christ translated into English:

Memorial

In the year of grace, 1654, On Monday, 23rd of November, Feast of St Clement, Pope and Martyr, and others in the Martyrology, Vigil of St Chrysogonus, Martyr, and others, From about half past ten in the evening until about half past twelve,

Fire!

God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, (Ex 3:6; Mt 22:32) not of the philosophers and scholars.

Certitude. Certitude. Feeling. Joy.
Peace. God of Jesus Christ.
“Thy God and my God.” (Jn 20:17)
Forgetfulness of the world and of everything, except God.
He is to be found only in the ways taught in the Gospel.
Greatness of the Human Soul.
“Righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee, but I have known Thee.” (Jn 17:25)
Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.
I have separated myself from Him.  “They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters.” (Jr 2:13)  “My God, wilt Thou leave me?” (Mt 27:46)
Let me not be separated from Him eternally.  “This is the eternal life, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and the one whom Thou hast sent, Jesus Christ.” (Jn 17:3)  Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ

I have separated myself from Him:
I have fled from Him,
denied Him,
crucified Him.
Let me never be separated from Him.
We keep hold of Him only by the ways taught in the Gospel.
Renunciation, total and sweet.
Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my director.
Eternally in joy for a day’s training on earth.
“I will not forget thy words.” (Ps 119:16) Amen.