Chapter 23: Our preparations for death are not forgotten before God

Once, as the Saint implored our Lord to show her mercy at the hour of death, He replied : " How can I fail to

2 M accomplish what I have already commenced ? " She replied : " If Thou hadst taken me out of the world when I thought, by Thy Divine communications, that my end was near, I should have supposed that I was better prepared to die ; but now I think that my negligences have rendered me less worthy." Our Lord answered : " All things are ordered by the wisdom of My providence ; whatever you have once done is always before Me, and whatever you may add thereto will not be lost."

From this she understood that preparation for death may be made long before the event ; as a prince prepares for a long time when about to celebrate his nuptials. In the preceding harvest the grain and the grape are stored up in his cellars, so that there may be an abundant supply when they are needed for use ; then the event may not be spoken of again until the time approaches, although the preparations are made. Thus God incites His elect to prepare for death, though He may not take them out of the world for some time.