Chapter LXIII. Of Four Assaults of our Enemies at the time of Dying; and first of the Assault upon Faith, and of the Manner of defending ourselves

THERE are four principal and most dangerous assaults, which our enemies are wont to make against us at the time of death.

They are; temptation of faith, despair, vainglory, and various illusions and transformations of devils into angels of light.

As to the first assault; if the enemy begin to tempt you with his false arguments, retire at once from the understanding to the will, saying: "Get thee behind me, Satan, father of lies, for I will not even hear thee; enough for me to believe what the Holy Catholic Church believes."

And do not, as far as possible, give place to questions about the faith, however plausible they may seem, but regard them as prompted by the devil in order to stir up anxiety.

But if, however, you are not in time to turn your thoughts quite away, stand firm and unmoved, so as not to yield to any reason or authority of Scripture, which the adversary may allege; for all will be garbled, or wrongly quoted or misinterpreted, although it may appear to you to be good, clear, and conclusive.

And if the subtle serpent. demands of you what the Catholic Church believes, do not answer him, but seeing his device, and that he only wants to catch you in your words, make an inward act of more lively faith; or else, to make him burst with indignation, reply, that the Holy Catholic Church believes the truth; and if the Evil One should ask in return, "What is the truth?" you reply, "Even that which she believes."

Above all, ever keep your heart intent upon the Crucified, saying: "My God, my Creator and Saviour, haste Thou to help me, and forsake me not, that I part not with the truth of the Holy Catholic Faith; and may it please Thee, that as in this faith by Thy grace I was born, so in it, to Thy glory, I may end this mortal life."