# § 6 explained — Verses on Various Occasions > Chapter companion for Verses on Various Occasions by John Henry Newman. ## What happens The Angel announces that judgment is near as the soul enters God's veiled presence. The soul hears voices from earth, including friends reciting the 'Subvenite' with the priest. The great Angel of the Agony, who strengthened Christ in Gethsemane, intercedes for tormented souls. The Angel of the Agony pleads with Jesu by His sufferings to spare the souls in prison. The soul declares it goes before its Judge, and the Angel describes how the spirit, with eager love, flies to Emmanuel but is seized, scorched, and shriveled by the keen sanctity of the Crucified, yet lies safe and quickened by God's glance. The soul then prays to be taken away to the lowest deep, there to keep lonely night-watches in hope, singing a sad perpetual strain until the morn, soothing its stricken breast until it possesses its Sole Peace and sees the Lord in everlasting day. ## Themes in this chapter ### Suffering and Humility The soul's willing acceptance of pain and its humble plea to be placed in the lowest deep, singing in hope until it attains peace, reflects redemptive suffering. ### Sin and Redemption The Angel of the Agony intercedes for souls in prison, and the soul is purified by the sanctity of Christ, highlighting the journey from sin to salvation. ## Character check-ins ### Angel Announces judgment and describes the soul's journey into God's presence; identifies the great Angel of the Agony who strengthened Christ. ### Gerontius The soul who hears voices from earth, goes before the Judge, and prays to be taken away to the lowest deep in hope. ### Jesu Addressed by the Angel of the Agony, recalling His suffering in Gethsemane and pleading for souls. ### Christ Referred to as the Crucified, whose sanctity seizes and scorches the soul, and as Emmanuel. ## Key lines > Thy judgment now is near, for we are come Into the veiled presence of our God. Your judgment is approaching because we have entered the hidden presence of God. _The Angel announces the imminent judgment as the soul approaches God._ > Jesu! by that shuddering dread which fell on Thee; Jesu! by that cold dismay which sickened Thee; Jesu! by that pang of heart which thrilled in Thee; Jesu! by that mount of sins which crippled Thee; Jesu! by that sense of guilt which stifled Thee; Jesu! by that innocence which girdled Thee; Jesu! by that sanctity which reigned in Thee; Jesu! by that Godhead which was one with Thee; Jesu! spare these souls which are so dear to Thee, Who in prison, calm and patient, wait for Thee; Hasten, Lord, their hour, and bid them come to Thee, To that glorious Home, where they shall ever gaze on Thee. Jesus, by your terrifying dread, cold dismay, heart-pang, burden of sins, guilt, innocence, sanctity, and divinity, spare these dear souls who patiently wait in prison; hurry their hour and call them to your glorious home where they will always see you. _The Angel of the Agony pleads with Christ, invoking His sufferings and attributes, to have mercy on souls in purgatory._ > Take me away, and in the lowest deep There let me be, And there in hope the lone night-watches keep, Told out for me. There, motionless and happy in my pain, Lone, not forlorn— There will I sing my sad perpetual strain, Until the morn. Take me away and let me be in the lowest depth, where I will keep lonely night-watches in hope, counting the hours. There, still and joyful in my pain, alone but not abandoned, I will sing my sad endless song until morning. _The soul expresses a desire for purgatorial suffering, finding hope and peace in patient endurance._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters/6 - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/verses_on_various_occasions_se/chapters