Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/281



I. Consider  that  this  life  must  one  day  end. Already has  the  sentence  gone  forth: "Thou  must die.”  Death  is  certain,  but  you  know  not  when  it will  come.  One  little  drop  flowing  through  your heart; a vein  bursting  in  your  breast; a suffocating cold  in  the  throat,  a violent  rush  of  blood,  a fever,  a wound,  a flash  of  lightning,  is  enough  to deprive  you  of  life.  Death  will  come  to  you  when you  least  expect  it.  How  many  have  laid  down  to sleep  at  night  in  health,  and  in  the  morning  have been  found  dead! May  not  this  happen  as  well  to you?  All  those  who  have  died  so  suddenly  little thought  that  they  were  to  die  in  this  way; and  if  they were  then  in  the  state  of  sin,  where  are  they  now? and  where  will  they  be  through  all  eternity? Let  it be  as  it  may  with  them,  this  is  certain,  that  a time will  one  day  come,  when  for  you  a night  will  close in, followed  by  no  morning; or  a day  will  begin  for you that  will  be  interrupted  by  no  night. Jesus Christ said: I will  come  as  a thief,  unseen  and  in secret. Your merciful  Saviour  warns  you  in  season, for he  desires  that  you  may  be  saved. Do what  God desires of  you,  profit  by  the  warning,  prepare  yourself to  die  well  before  death  itself  comes. "Be ready," for when  there  is  no  more  time  for  preparation,  it  is necessary  to  be  already  prepared. [Examine here  your besetting It  is  certain  that  you  must  die. The drama of  this  world  must  close  for  you,  and  you know not  when. Who knows  whether  you  will  live a year, a month,  or  even  till  to-morrow? Jesus! enlighten me  and  pardon  me. [ Arouse your  soul  to contrition,  and  make  a firm  resolution.]