Momento Mori Metaphors

Based from the title “Memento Mori” readers are given a story that revolves around the Latin saying that translates to, “Remember you must die.” In the novel a group of elderly folks from Britain are delivered a telephone message. It is always the same but with different speakers. The message always contains the words “Remember, you must die.” There are a few aspects and dimensions of Catholicism that can be seen in the novel Momento Mori; that of which is, Life is temporary, we are all sinners and our salvation lies in repentance or forgiveness, we are given the free will to act as we please, and God, in his mercy has given us the chance to redeem ourselves.

An essential aspect of momento mori metaphor is that it is a “reminder of death”

Behold, thou has made my days as an hand breadth, and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. (Psalm 39:4-5)

The novel begins with the introduction of various characters; all of which are merely awaiting the call of their time. Life is temporary. Majority of the group try to deny the fate that awaits them-which is, the ever-frightening idea of dying. It is made apparent early on what the book revolves around and it is the idea of valuing life with the knowledge that it is a gift given to be used in a wholesome manner. We must remember that after everything, we are to return from dust, stripped from mortality-our human bodies, and called forth towards our home in Heaven.

Death, peculiarly, provides us with an enlightenment. The state of being temporary with life remind us all that very little of all of us are as significant and as indispensable as we, ourselves or our loved ones may think we are. If our importance is promulgated by the impact we created or have had on the bigger picture of our close circle of family and friends, our city, our nation, the world…it would not matter because time and more significantly, life wait for no one. Not even those perceived to be ‘very

Olive has an arrangement with Godfrey regarding stockings which is also an arrangement shared by mean Mrs. Pettigrew.

That being said, the characters in the book does not matter as much as the message they are trying to be given. We do however, see the weaknesses of men and it reminds us that no one here is sinless and that sin is what kills people. We are all sinners and our salvation lies in repentance or forgiveness

Further along the story, as all the characters are introduced, more and more of them are given the reminder of their mortality; however, instead of focusing on the message, they are seen to react differently to be told to remember that they must die. Some are outraged, some feel incredulous, and one certain character is stoic with acceptance in her state. This form of reaction can remind one of King Nebuchadnezzar.

King Nebuchadnezzar had risen up to be great and influential amongst his people but he had failed to acknowledge that all of his power was only possible because of God. The power he possessed was from God. God is truly the only one all powerful and almighty. God reminded the king through sending dreams that he was merely mortal.(Daniel