Reflection #9
Preparation for Death
Death is certain: "It is appointed unto men once to die." (Hebrew 9:27). On the contrary, the time and manner of our death is uncertain. Therefore, Jesus Christ exhorts us: "Be you then also ready, for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come." (Luke 12:40). He says: "Be you ready." Therefore, to save our souls, it is not sufficient to prepare ourselves to die when death comes, but we must then be already prepared to embrace it in whatever manner and with whatever circumstances it may come to us. It is accordingly useful for everyone to repeat, at least once a month, the following acts.
Behold me, O my God, ready to embrace that death which Thou dost destine for me. From this moment I accept it, and I sacrifice to Thee my life in honor of Thy Divine Majesty, and also in penance for my sins, rejoicing that this my flesh, to please which I have offended Thee so much, should be devoured by worms and be reduced to dust. O my Jesus I unite the pains and agony which Thou, my Savior, didst suffer in Thy death. I accept death with all the circumstances Thou mayest appoint; I accept the time, whether it be after many years, or in a short time; I accept the manner, whether in bed or out of it, whether with warning or suddenly, and from that sickness, more or less painful, as it may please Thee. In everything I resign myself to Thy holy Will. Give me strength to suffer all with patience.
"What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that He hath rendered to me?" (Psalms 115:12). I thank Thee, O my God, first, for the gift of faith, protesting that I intend to die a child of the Holy Catholic Church. I thank Thee for not having caused me to die when I was in sin, and for having so often pardoned me, with so much mercy. I thank Thee for so many lights and graces with which Thou hast sought to draw me to Thy love. I pray Thee to let me die after receiving Thee in the holy Viaticum, so that, united to Thee, I may go to present myself at Thy tribunal. I do not deserve to hear from Thy mouth the words: "Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matthew 25:21). I do not deserve it, for in nothing have I been perfectly faithful to Thee; but Thy death gives me hope that I shall be admitted to Heaven, to love Thee there eternally and with all my powers.
O my crucified Love, have mercy upon me! Look upon me with that love with which Thou didst look upon me from the Cross when dying for me. "The sins of my youth and my ignorances do not remember." (Psalms 24:7). My sins terrify me, but I am comforted by that Cross on which I see Thee dead for the love of me. "Behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the salvation of the world." (From the Good Friday traditional liturgy). I desire to end my life, that I may cease from offending Thee. Oh, by the Blood that was shed for me, do Thou pardon me all my sins before death comes upon me. O Blood of the Innocent One, wash away the stains of the guilty!
My Jesus, I embrace Thy Cross and kiss the wounds of Thy sacred feet, before which I desire to breathe out my soul. Ah, do not abandon me at the last moment. "We beseech Thee therefore, save Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood." I love Thee with all my heart, I love Thee more than myself, and I repent with all my soul that I have despised Thee in the past. O Lord, I was lost, but Thou in Thy goodness hast delivered me from the world; receive then my soul from this moment, for the hour when it shall leave the earth. Therefore, I pray to Thee with St. Agatha: "O Lord, Thou who hast taken from me the love of this world, receive my soul." "In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped; I shall not be confounded forever. . . Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of Truth." (Psalms 30:1, 6).
O holy Virgin, succor me at the moment of my death. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a sinner, now and at the hour of my death. In thee, O Lady, have I hoped; I shall not be confounded forever. St. Joseph, my protector, obtain for me a holy death. My Guardian Angel, St. Michael the Archangel, defend me in that last conflict with Hell. My holy patrons and all ye Saints of Paradise, succor me in that last moment.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, be with me at the hour of my death. Amen.
[Excepted from 'Devout Reflections and Meditations' by St. Alphonsus Liguori] (Public domain)
Behold me, O my God, ready to embrace that death which Thou dost destine for me. From this moment I accept it, and I sacrifice to Thee my life in honor of Thy Divine Majesty, and also in penance for my sins, rejoicing that this my flesh, to please which I have offended Thee so much, should be devoured by worms and be reduced to dust. O my Jesus I unite the pains and agony which Thou, my Savior, didst suffer in Thy death. I accept death with all the circumstances Thou mayest appoint; I accept the time, whether it be after many years, or in a short time; I accept the manner, whether in bed or out of it, whether with warning or suddenly, and from that sickness, more or less painful, as it may please Thee. In everything I resign myself to Thy holy Will. Give me strength to suffer all with patience.
"What shall I render to the Lord for all the things that He hath rendered to me?" (Psalms 115:12). I thank Thee, O my God, first, for the gift of faith, protesting that I intend to die a child of the Holy Catholic Church. I thank Thee for not having caused me to die when I was in sin, and for having so often pardoned me, with so much mercy. I thank Thee for so many lights and graces with which Thou hast sought to draw me to Thy love. I pray Thee to let me die after receiving Thee in the holy Viaticum, so that, united to Thee, I may go to present myself at Thy tribunal. I do not deserve to hear from Thy mouth the words: "Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." (Matthew 25:21). I do not deserve it, for in nothing have I been perfectly faithful to Thee; but Thy death gives me hope that I shall be admitted to Heaven, to love Thee there eternally and with all my powers.
O my crucified Love, have mercy upon me! Look upon me with that love with which Thou didst look upon me from the Cross when dying for me. "The sins of my youth and my ignorances do not remember." (Psalms 24:7). My sins terrify me, but I am comforted by that Cross on which I see Thee dead for the love of me. "Behold the wood of the cross, on which hung the salvation of the world." (From the Good Friday traditional liturgy). I desire to end my life, that I may cease from offending Thee. Oh, by the Blood that was shed for me, do Thou pardon me all my sins before death comes upon me. O Blood of the Innocent One, wash away the stains of the guilty!
My Jesus, I embrace Thy Cross and kiss the wounds of Thy sacred feet, before which I desire to breathe out my soul. Ah, do not abandon me at the last moment. "We beseech Thee therefore, save Thy servants, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood." I love Thee with all my heart, I love Thee more than myself, and I repent with all my soul that I have despised Thee in the past. O Lord, I was lost, but Thou in Thy goodness hast delivered me from the world; receive then my soul from this moment, for the hour when it shall leave the earth. Therefore, I pray to Thee with St. Agatha: "O Lord, Thou who hast taken from me the love of this world, receive my soul." "In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped; I shall not be confounded forever. . . Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of Truth." (Psalms 30:1, 6).
O holy Virgin, succor me at the moment of my death. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a sinner, now and at the hour of my death. In thee, O Lady, have I hoped; I shall not be confounded forever. St. Joseph, my protector, obtain for me a holy death. My Guardian Angel, St. Michael the Archangel, defend me in that last conflict with Hell. My holy patrons and all ye Saints of Paradise, succor me in that last moment.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, be with me at the hour of my death. Amen.
[Excepted from 'Devout Reflections and Meditations' by St. Alphonsus Liguori] (Public domain)
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