Fifth meditation. Death

First point.

Kefleot, O mortals, that it would be a great offence against God to die without having thought of death. Death, which dominates over this perishable life, observes no fixed rules; at one time it takes this person, at another that, without choice or method, the good and the bad, the young and the old. O how blessed are they who live in a continual fear of death, and who are at all times prepared so to die, th#t they may live forever in that life in which there is no death!

Second point.

Reflect that God, having placed us in the house of this world, will, on a day

DEATH.

known to Himself and of which we are ignorant, call us before Him with this summons: " Give an account of thy stewardship, of thy vows, of thy Eules, and observances; in short, of all the possessions over which I have placed thee." Alas! what will be the outcome of this reckoning? I do not know; for all this is hidden in the future.

Third point.

Reflect that the just man does not die an unprovided death, for he has amply provided for the dread moment by persevering in Christian integrity and in religious obedience. Moreover, holy Church does not pray that we may not die a sudden, "but an unprovided, death.

Affections.

If the religious state secured us no other boon than that of a constant preparation

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for death, we ought to hold it in great respect Alas! my soul, death teaches us every day that the glory of this world is naught but illusion and falsehood, and that the life of man passes away as a puff of wind. Come, then, let us cast ourselves at the feet of our immortal King, to whom death is more amiable than the life of all the kinffs of the earth. O sweet Jesus! bestow upon me that lasting remembrance of death which destroys sin, which humiliates me by causing me to think of the dust of the tomb, and which makes me despise all that is perishable.

O blessed Father, St. Francis, you did not die an unprovided death, you who meditated so profoundly on death, who were so well prepared to hear the final summons, and who said: "I am about to prepare myself, to put myself in readiness for the great journey to eternity." Ah!

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that I may be faithful to the practice which you hare ordained for us, to regret the hours passed unprofitably, since we must render an account of all on the day of our death. Take care, 0 my dear soul, how you observe every rule and vow of your Institute; for I warn you that you must render an account of all to our sovefeign Judge. O Jesus, remember that Thou art at the same time my Judge and my Father, my Saviour and my Examine*!

" Alas! when I think how ill I have em* ployed the time of God, I am in doubt whether or not He will give me share in His eternal happiness, since He gives it only to those who employ well this present tfcne," exclaimed the holy Founder. If this faithful servant said this of himself, What should I, sinful spendthrift, say of myself? O my sweet Jesus, covered with

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confusion before Thee, I beseech Thee to enter not into an exact account with Thy servant; for who can withstand Thy tager? Bather grant me this grace that, in imitation of my blessed Father, I may be so anxious to serve Thee well, that I may confidently abandon to Thee the entire care of my death.

JUDGMENT.