Gerard Serafin posts the Memorial of Blaise Pascal. Moving and powerful words and fervent in their faith. The intensity of a captured heart.



Addendum 8/20: A coincidence of timing. Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Blaise Pascal. The Bible Study Hour yesterday began broadcast of a commentary series on the story of Joseph in Genesis by Dr. James Montgomery Boice. Dr. Boice referred to Pascal as among the thinkers who had given thought to Joseph as a prefiguring of the Christ. Here is the passage from the Pensees, XII, 768.



Jesus Christ typified by Joseph, the beloved of his father,

sent by his father to see his brethren, etc., innocent, sold by his

brethren for twenty pieces of silver, and thereby becoming their lord,

their saviour, the saviour of strangers and the saviour of the

world; which had not been but for their plot to destroy him, their

sale and their rejection of him.



In prison, Joseph innocent between two criminals; Jesus Christ

on the cross between two thieves. Joseph foretells freedom to the one,

and death to the other, from the same omens. Jesus Christ saves the

elect, and condemns the outcast for the same sins. Joseph foretells

only; Jesus Christ acts. Joseph asks him who will be saved to remember

him, when he comes into his glory; and he whom Jesus Christ saves asks

that He will remember him, when He comes into His kingdom.