"Pascal's Memorial" or "Pascal's Amulet", Is a text on a narrow strip of parchment, a kind of summary of the mystical insight experienced by Blaise Pascal on the night of November 23-24, 1654. He kept it until his death in the lining of his camisole.
This document marks a turning point in the life of the great scientist - his "second appeal". This "Memorial" is assessed by researchers as the "program" of the last years of Pascal's life, which is undoubtedly evidenced by his literary activity during these years.
Read more about the life and scientific work of the genius in the biography of Blaise Pascal. We also recommend that you pay attention to selected thoughts of Pascal, where we have collected the most important quotes from his famous work "Thoughts".
The famous literary critic Boris Tarasov writes:
Memorial is a document of exceptional biographical significance. One has only to imagine that he would never have been discovered, as in the life of Pascal, a certain impenetrable area inevitably arises, mysterious for researchers and his biography, and his work.
In "Memorial" Pascal rebelled against himself, and he does so with such passionate conviction, examples of which can not be found so many in the entire history of mankind. No matter how incomprehensible to us the circumstances of writing Memorial, it is impossible to understand Pascal himself without knowing this document.
An interesting fact is that the text of "Memorial", which differs markedly from all of Pascal's works both in terms of content and style, was first written down on paper, and after a few hours it was rewritten completely on parchment.
"Pascal's memorial" was discovered by accident after the death of the scientist: the servant, who was tidying up his clothes, found the document sewn into the floor of his camisole along with a draft. Pascal hid what had happened from everyone, even from his younger sister Jacqueline, whom he dearly loved and with whom he was spiritually close.
Below is a translation of the text of the Pascal Memorial.
Pascal Memorial Text
YEAR OF GRACE 1654
Monday 23 November is the day of St. Clement of the Pope and the Martyr and other martyrs.
Eve of Saint Chrysogonus the Martyr and others. From about ten and a half in the evening until half past midnight.
THE FIRE
God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob,
but not the God of Philosophers and scientists.
Confidence. Confidence. Feeling, Joy, Peace.
God of Jesus Christ.
Deum meum et Deum vestrum (my God and your God).
Your God will be my God.
Forgetting the world and everything except God.
It can be obtained only on the paths indicated in the Gospel.
The greatness of the human soul.
Righteous Father, the world did not know you, but I did know you.
Joy, Joy, Joy, tears of joy.
I was separated from him.
Dereliquerunt me fontem aquae vivae (The springs of living water left me)
My God, will you leave me?
May I not be separated from him forever.
This is eternal life so that they know you, the only true God and I.Kh.
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ
I was separated from him. I fled from him, denied him, crucified him.
May I never be separated from him!
It can be preserved only in the ways indicated in the Gospel.
Renunciation is complete and sweet.
Complete obedience to Jesus Christ and my confessor.
Eternal joy for a day of heroism on earth.
Non obliviscar sermones tuos. Amen (May I not forget Thy precepts. Amen).
