So by his true and praise-worthy repentance the Lord showed us that even after long negligence He accepts those who desire to amend. The remembrance of death and sins precedes weeping and mourning ... The remembrance of death is a daily death ...
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century


Just as the Fathers lay down that perfect love knows no sin, so I for my part declare that a perfect sense of death is free from fear ... The remembrance of death, like all other blessings, is a gift of God- He who has died to all things remembers death ...
-St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent. Step 6: On Remembrance of Death, 6th Century