Thought for the Day – 4 September – Meditations with Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
“Preparation for Death”
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
CONSIDERATION III
“For what is your life?
It is even a vapour which appeareth for a little time.”
(St James iv: 14)
SECOND POINT.
King Hezekiah wept and said:
“I have cut my life off like a weaver;
. . . from day even to night,
wilt Thou make an end of me.” (Isa xxxviii: 12)
Oh! how many who are busy weaving, that is, planning and executing their worldly designs, which they have undertaken with such care, are overtaken by death which cuts off all. At the hour of death, all the glory of everything which is worldly, vanishes away, applause, amusements, pomps and grandeur.
Great secret of death! which makes us see that which the lovers of the world do not see. Fortunes which have been envied, the grandest dignities, the proudest triumphs, lose all their splendour, when they are reviewed from the bed of death!
The notions of certain false happiness which we have formed in our own minds, these are changed into exceeding great indignation against our own folly. The black and gloomy shadow of death covers and obscures all dignities even though they be Royal.
Our passions now, make the things of this earth appear different from what they really are – death unveils them and makes us see, what in truth they are, nothing but smoke, dust, vanity and misery. O my God! of what avail are riches, possessions and kingdoms, in death, when nothing is needed but a coffin and a simple robe to cover the body?
Of what avail are honours, when nothing remains of them but a funeral train and a pompous burial which will assist the soul in no way if it be lost?
Of what avail is beauty, if nothing remains of it but worms, corruption and horror, even before death and afterwards, nothing but a little foul dust?
“He hath made me also a byword of the people.” (Job xvii: 6).
That rich man dies, that minister, that captain and then, he will be spoken of everywhere ; if he has led a wicked life, he will
become a byword of the people and he will serve as a warning to others, being an example of the vanity of the world and also, an example of Divine justice. In the grave, his ashes will be mingled with the ashes of the poor.
“The small and great are there.” (Job iii: 19).
Of what use has the beautiful form of his body been to him, if now he is only a mass of corruption? What has the authority he possessed availed him, if his body is now thrown into a grave to corrupt and his soul has been cast into hell to burn? Oli ! what misery to be the object of these sad reflections to others, instead of making them for his own profit.
Let us, therefore, be persuaded that the proper time for satisfying the stings of a remorseful conscience, is during the time of life and not at the hour of death.
Let us hasten now to do that which, at that time we shall not be able to do.
“The time is short.”
All things quickly pass away and end, therefore, let us so act, that all we do, may serve towards obtaining our eternal salvation.
Affections andPrayers:
O God of my soul, O Infinite Goodness, have mercy upon me, who have so often offended Thee. I did indeed know that by sinning I should lose Thy grace and, I did not mind losing it but teach me what I can do to regain it.
If Thou desirest that I should repent of my sins, I do repent with my whole heart; I would even like to die of grief at having once sinned.
If it is Thy wish that I should hope for pardon from Thee, I do truly hope for it, through the merits of Thy Blood.
If Thou desirest that I should love Thee above all things, I will leave all; I will renounce all the joys and the riches which the world can give me and I will love Thee above all other things, O my most adorable Saviour.
If Thou wiliest that I should demand graces of Thee, I ask for these too that Thou wilt never let me offend Thee anymore and that, Thou wilt make me to love Thee and then do with me whatsoever Thou wilt!
AnaStpaul 