August 30

The Sinner And The Just Man At Death

Preparation. - We shall make a special preparation tomorrow for a good death. Wherefore we shall consider, first, the feelings of the sinner, and secondly, those of the just at their last hour. And then we shall represent to ourselves the last moments of an impenitent sinner, like Herod, and those of a saint, like John Baptist, and shall then think on this saying: “As life is, so is death.” “What things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap” (Gal. 6. 8).

I. Feelings Of The Sinner At Death

Behold, says St. Alphonsus, the poor worldling a prey to his last illness! He is alas! about to die. His perspiration is icy fold, his breathing difficult, and he swoons away frequently. But the worst is that, though facing death, instead of thinking on the account he will have to render to God, he seems to occupy himself only with physicians and remedies. He feels unable to think of his soul, his God, his eternity; he is too weak, to fatigued for this.

But the unfortunate man begins to suspect the danger he is in. He beholds his family disturbed and uneasy, the physician coming often to see him, consulting with others, and powerful remedies multiplied. Sadness and despondency seize upon him; tormented with fears, anxiety and remorse, he begins to say to himself: “Alas! is not perhaps the end of my days approaching?”

And how great his bitterness when he realizes that his death is at hand! Dark despair soon fills the soul of this impenitent sinner. His iniquities rise up before him as horrible monsters about to devour him. He beholds the disorders of his life, the graces he abused: “How unfortunate I have been not to have profited by the numerous occasions I had of putting my conscience in order! Now that death is near, it is too late for me to be converted!” This unfortunate sinner passes out of this world in these sad dispositions. How deplorable his end! It teaches us to make our life more serious, less dissipated, and fully attentive to the all-important affair of our salvation. For we now not whether we shall see tomorrow, or even the next hour.

O Jesus, I expect from Thee the grace of being recollected and of often meditating on my last end, and especially on death, which continually threatens to drag me to Thy tribunal to hear the sentence that will decide my eternal lot. Grant me the spirit of penance and compunction, the courage to mortify my senses and inclinations, so that I may die to myself and live constantly with Thee by means of unceasing prayer.

II. Feelings Of The Just Man At Death

The dying are usually disturbed by the sins they did not do penance for. But the just man has led a life of innocence, or, at least, he has expiated his faults by a fervent life, by a life spent in the fear of God, in the practice of piety and of his duties. His conscience gives a good testimony of him, and the sweet assurance of his being in the grace of God. O how sweet is it then for him who spent his life denying and mortifying himself, in practicing obedience, mental prayer and charity! How consoling for him who always lived in God’s friendship and laid up a treasure for himself in heaven!

The firm hope of being saved completes the happiness of the dying just man. He seems to hear a secret voice saying to him: “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord; their sufferings, combats and anguish are about to end, and they will be admitted to endless bliss.” But on what does he ground his confidence? On his works, virtues or merits? By no means; but solely on the mercy of Him, whose loving kindness he knows through the graces he received from Him. He rests it also on the sufferings of the Redeemer, whose precious blood, after regenerating him in baptism, so often purified and strengthened him in Penance and the Holy Eucharist. He finally relies on the intercession of her who is the Mother of his soul, the Mediatress of salvation, from whom he has received so many favors.

Let us adopt these sentiments, and therefore let us live each day, as if it were our last. A young gentlemen having asked of St. Angela, the foundress of the Ursulines, for a means to sanctify himself in the world, received this answer: “Do now and during your whole life what you would wish, at the hour of your death, to have done.” These words, spoken in a convincing tone, so struck the young man, that he wrote them down, read them every morning, and put them into practice, and thus became a great servant of God.

Let us, like him, in the first place, so prepare ourselves every evening, as if we were that very night to appear before the tribunal of God; and secondly, let us in the morning propose to spend the day with the fervor of one who expects to die that very moment. O my God, give me the grace to practice both of these resolution.