Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/290

 consider that  hell  is  waiting  for  yon  also,  if  you  sin. Even now  its  horrid  flames  are  burning  under  your feet, and  Oh,  at  this  moment,  even  while  you  are reading these  words,  how  many  souls  are  falling  into it! Remember that  when  you  have  once  entered there, you  can  never  leave  it. And if  you  have deserved hell,  thank  God  that  he  has  not  yet  cast you into  it,  and  hasten  as  soon  as  possible  to  remedy the evil. Mourn for  your  sins  and  use  all  the  means that are  in  your  power  for  your  salvation. Go frequently to  confession,  read  daily  some  spiritual  book, say the  Rosary  every  day  in  honour  of  the  Mother  of God,  that  you  may  obtain  a great  devotion  to  her; fast, if  possible,  every  Saturday  in  honour  of  Mary, resist temptations,  and  often  call  upon  Jesus  and Mary when  you  are  tempted. Avoid the  occasions of sin,  and  if  God  should  call  you  to  leave  the  world, then do  it,  yes,  do  it! Ah ! everything that  we  can  do to  avoid  an  eternity  of  suffering  is  little — is  nothing. “No certainty  can  be  too  great,  where  we  are  in  peril for eternity,”  says  St. Bernard. In order  to  place yourself in  safety  for  eternity,  no  foresight  is  too  far-reaching. See how  many  hermits,  that  they  might avoid hell,  have  gone  into  caves  and  deserts,  and there lived ! And what  are  you  doing  for  your  soul? what are  you  doing,  you  that  have  so  often  deserved hell? what are  you  doing? [ Think of  your  besetting sin.] See  to  it,  that  you  are  not  lost. Give yourself once  for  all  to  God,  and  say  to  him : O Lord! behold me  ready  to  do  everything  thou  requirest  of me. O Mary, help  me! [Endeavour to  arouse  your will  to  the  deepest  contrition, and  make  a firm  resolution.]