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 me  fortitude  to  resist;  from  Thee  I  seek  it,  and  of Thee  I  hope  for  it! But I  will  not  content  myself only with  the  grace  of  not  falling  again;  I  desire  also the grace  of  loving  Thee  exceedingly  during  the  days that remain  to  me,  so  that  I  may  love  Thee  still more in  eternity. O Mary,  my  Mother! do thou also pray,  and  beseech  Jesus  for  me;  thy  prayers  are all-powerful with  thy  Son,  Who  loves  thee  so  much. Thou who  desirest  so  much  that  He  should  be  loved, beseech Him  to  give  me  a  great  love  for  His  goodness, and  let  this  love  be  constant  and  eternal.

ow can  he  ever  abhor  death  who  is  in  the grace of  God? " He  that  abideth  in  love dwelleth  in  God,  and  God  in  him"  (1  John iv.  16). He, therefore,  that  loves  God  is  secure  of His  grace,  and,  thus  dying,  he  is  sure  of  going  to  rejoice forever  in  the  kingdom  of  the  blessed;  and shall such  a  one  fear  death? David truly  said: "Enter not  into  judgment  with  Thy  servant,  for  in Thy  sight  shall  no  man  living  be  justified"  (Ps.  cxlii. 2). This means  that  no  man  may  presume  to  be saved  by  his  own  merits;  for  no  .one  but  Jesus  and Mary can  say  that  he  has  been  without  sin  throughout his  life. But he  ought  not  to  fear  death,  if,  with true repentance  for  his  sins,  he  trusts  in  the  merits of Jesus  Christ. It was  to  save  sinners  that  Jesus