Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/282

 II. Consider how  you  will  lie,  at  the  hour  of  death, stretched upon  a bed,  surrounded  by  your  weeping friends, a priest  by  your  side  to  assist  your  soul,  a crucifix  at  your  head,  the  lighted  taper  in  your  hand, in fine,  already  just  at  the  entrance  of  eternity. Dreadful pains  afflict  your  distracted  head,  it  grows dark around  you,  your  tongue  is  parched,  your breath is  short,  your  breast  is  burdened,  your  blood chilled, your  flesh  shrunken,  your  heart  rent  with anguish; all you  have  is  gliding  from  you,  and  poor and naked  you  will  be  thrown  into  a grave  to  rot. There worms  and  insects  will  gnaw  your  flesh,  and nothing of  you  will  be  left  but  the  crumbling  bones and a little  dust. Open some  grave  and  look ! What has  become  of  that  rich,  that  avaricious  man, that vain  and  worldly  woman?

Thus ends  life. At the  hour  of  death  you  will find yourself  surrounded  by  evil  spirits,  who  will bring up  before  you  all  the  sins  you  have  committed from your  childhood. Now, the  devil  conceals  and excuses your  sins,  that  he  may  lead  you  into  sin. He says  to  you:  This  vanity,  this  pleasure,  this dangerous company,  this  inclination  is  no  great  sin; you have  no  bad  intention  in  this  acquaintance; but at the  hour  of  death  he  will  show  you  all  the  enormity of your  sins. [ Examine yourself  thoroughly  as  to  your besetting sin.]  By  the  light  of  that  eternity  into  which you are  just  entering,  you  will  then  see  what  an  evil it was  to  have  offended  an  infinite  God. Now, while there is  yet  time,  while  you  can  do  it,  remedy  the evil, for  then  it  will  be  too  late. [ Awaken your  contrition, and  make  a firm  resolution .]

III. Consider that  death  is  a moment  upon  which a whole eternity  depends. Behold! here lies  a man just dying,  and  therefore  near  to  both  eternities;