At its core, memento mori is about acknowledging our own mortality and using that awareness to shape how we live. Rather than clinging to earthly pleasures, believers are encouraged to focus on spiritual matters, ensuring that they are prepared to leave life with a soul at peace.
This idea has been reinforced in religious practices for centuries, particularly during Ash Wednesday services, where ashes are placed on the forehead with the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
Although the phrase is in Latin and tied directly to Catholicism, similar philosophies can be found in many Buddhist texts as well as in Islam.
By contemplating death, individuals can gain clarity about their priorities. Memento mori doesn’t ask people to fear death but to accept it as an inevitable transition that should inspire meaningful choices in life.
