Of meditation upon death
Chapter 23 be ready for death
6. O how great is human frailty, which is ever prone to vice!
To-day you confess your sins, and to-morrow you again commit the sins you confessed.
Now you resolve to be on your guard, and an hour after you are acting as if you had made no resolution.
Justly then may we humble ourselves, and never think anything great of ourselves; since we are so frail and unstable.
And very soon may we lose by our negligence what we have scarce managed to gain by grace, and that at long last and after much labour.
7. What will become of us in the end, if we begin so early to grow lukewarm?
Woe to us if we turn aside to rest, as though already there were peace and security, when as yet our behaviour shows no trace of true holiness!
We ought, indeed, to become novices once again and be instructed in good behaviour; for then there might be some hope of future amendment and of greater spiritual progress.
CHAPTER 23
OF MEDITATION UPON DEATH
A VERY little while and all will be over with you here. Ask yourself are you ready for the next life. Man is to-day, and to-morrow he is gone.
And when he is out of sight, he is quickly also out of mind.
O the dullness and the hardness of the human heart, that dwells only upon things present, instead of providing rather for those which are to come!
You should so order yourself in every deed and thought as though you were to die this day.
If you had a good conscience, you would not much fear death.
It were better to avoid sin than to fly death.
If you are not prepared to-day, how will you be to-morrow?
To-morrow is an uncertain day; and how do you know if you shall have to-morrow?
2. Of what use is it to Hve long, when we amend ourselves so httle?
Long life does not always amend us; on the contrary, it often mcreases our guilt.
Would that we had well spent even one day in this world'
count the years of their religious life; but often there is httJe fruit of amendment.
OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST
Book I If it is a fearful thing to die, it will perhaps be more dangerous to live longer.
Blessed is the man that has the hour of his death continually before his eyes, and every day gets ready to die.
If you have ever seen a man die, reflect that you too will travel the same road.
3. When it is morning, think that you wiU not live till evening.
And when evening comes, venture not to promise yourself the next morning.
Therefore be always ready; and so live that death may never find you unprepared.
Many die suddenly and when they look not for it; for, at an hour when we think not, the Son of man will come?'
When that last hour shall come, then will you begin to have a far different opinion of all your past life; and great will be your grief that you have been so negligent and remiss.
4. How happy and how prudent is he who strives to be in life what he would fain be found in death I For a perfect contempt of the world, a fervent desire to advance in virtue, the love of discipline, the labour of penance, readiness of obedience, self-denial, and the bearing of any kind of adversity for the love of Christ: these things will give us great confidence of dying happily.
Many are the good works you can do whilst in health; but when you are sick, I know not what you will be able to do.
Few are improved by sickness; so also they that go much on pilgrimage seldom grow in sanctity.
5. Do not trust in your friends and neighbours and leave your soul's welfare till hereafter; for men will forget you sooner than you think.
It is better to make provision in your lifetime and to send some good before you, than to trust to the assistance of others after death.
If you are not solicitous for yourself now, who wiU be solicitous for you hereafter?
Now is time very precious. Lo, now is the acceptable time; lo, now is the day of salvation* But, alas that you do not make better use of this time, when you might be meriting life eternal!
The time will come when you will desire one day or even one hour for amendment; and I know not if you will obtain it.
6. Ah, beloved! from how great danger can you free yourself, from how great fear deliver yourself, if only you be always fearful, and mindful of death.
1 Matthew xxiv, 44; Luke xii, 40.
«2 Corinthians vi, 2.
Chapter 23 be ready for death
Therefore, study so to live now that in the hour of death you may be able to rejoice rather than be afraid.
Learn now to die to the world, that then you may begin to live with Christ/ Learn now to despise all things, that then you may go freely to Christ.
Chastise your body now by penance, that then you may have sure confidence.
7. Ah, fool! why do you count on living long, when you are not sure of a single day?
How many thinking to live long have been deceived, and snatched unexpectedly from life!
How often have you heard it related that such a one fell by the sword, another was drowned, another falling from a height broke his neck, this man died at table, that other came to his end at play.
One perished by fire, another by the sword, another by pestilence, another at the hands of robbers. And thus death is the end of all, and man's hfe suddenly passes away, like a shadow.^
8. Who will remember you when you are dead? and who will pray for you?
Do now, beloved, do now all that you can; for you know not when you are to die, neither do you know what will befall you after death.
Whilst you have time, amass for yourself everlasting riches.'
Think of nothing but your salvation; care only for the things of God.
Make to yourself friends now, by venerating the Saints of God and imitating their lives, so that when you fail in this Hfe they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.*
9. Keep yourself as a pilgrim and a stranger'' upon earth, as one who has no concern with the business of the world.
Keep your heart free and lifted up to God, for here you have no lasting city."
Send thither your prayers and daily sighs, with tears, that after death your spirit may merit to pass happily to the Lord.
Amen.
1 Romans vi, 8.
«Job xiv, 2.
•Matthew vi, 20; Luke xii, 33.
*Luke xvi, 9.
*1 Peter ii, 11.
•Hebrews xiii, 14.