Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/49



I. Sickness  is  the  usual  warning  of  death. Every one should therefore  most  carefully  foresee  what  will  be most  expedient  for  him,  in  that  state,  to  make  a  secure and a  happy  exit  from  this  world. He must  first  acknowledge that  sickness  and  pain  are  sent  by  a  most loving Father,  to  expiate  his  sin  or  to  increase  and  try his virtue. Because thou  wast  acceptable  to  God,"  said the  angel  to  Tobias,  "  it  was  necessary  that  temptation should prove  thee."  (Tob.  xii.  13.)  Let  him  therefore give  God  thanks  for  his  sickness,  since  by  it  he  is  warned of  his  approaching  death,  and  has  time  to  prepare  for  it.

II. What ought  a  sick  man  to  do  by  way  of  immediate preparation for  death:  1. He must  purify  his  soul  from all sin,  by  a  sincere  confession  (a  general  confession  in such  a  case  is  very  advantageous). 2. He  must  resign himself entirely  to  God  in  regard  to  life  or  death. 3. He must  foresee  the  occasions  in  which  he  may  have  to suffer,  either  in  consequence  of  the  violence  of  his  disease or the  negligence  of  his  attendants,  and  arm  his  mind against temptations  to  impatience  in  these  cases. 4. He must  procure  the  reading  of  good  books. 5. He  must make frequent  ejaculations  to  Heaven. 6. He  must  often call to  mind  the  sufferings  of  Christ. 7. He  must  recommend himself  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  and  his  patron Saints. 8. He  must  frequently  make  acts  of  faith,  hope, love, and  contrition.

III. When his  danger  increases  he  must  call  in  time for the  last  helps  of  the  Church,  in  order  that  he  may  receive them  with  more  devotion. After this  he  must  dilate his  heart,  and  long  for  the  meeting  of  his  heavenly spouse. " Behold  the  bridegroom  cometh  :  go  ye  forth