According to tradition, during a Roman triumph, an attendant stood behind the general or emperor in the chariot, holding a golden crown and whispering reminders like "Memento mori" (“remember you must die) or "Memento homo" (remember you are only a man). This served to ground the general or emperor as a reminder of the brevity of life, as a warning against extreme pride or god-complexes in the face of his great achievements, and to prioritize what truly matters now.
Throughout the Bible we are reminded of our mortality, but the Bible does not stop at death. Death becomes the gateway to eternal life when we proclaim Christ as our Savior. With joy, let us hear the Spirit whisper to us, "Memento vivere" (remember you will live).
