Thought for the Day – 5 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)
THIRD POINT:
Therefore, is it not folly for the short and paltry pleasures of this brief life to incur the risk of dying a miserable death? and, with that death, to begin a wretched eternity? Oh, of how much importance is that last moment, that last gasp, that last closing of the view!
It is an eternity, either of every joy, or of every pain which is at stake, a life forever happy, or forever miserable!
Let us think – Jesus Christ was willing to die a bitter and cruel death, in order to obtain for us a peaceful and happy
death. For this end, He calls us so many times; He gives us so many lights; He admonishes us with so many threats, in order that we may be induced to spend that last moment in the grace of God.
Even the Pagan Antisthenes, when he was asked what was
the greatest blessing in this world, answered:
“A happy death!”
And what ought a Christian to say, who knows by faith that, from the moment of death, eternity begins; so that in that moment, he lays hold of one of the two wheels which draws with it, either eternal happiness or eternal suffering?
If there were two tickets in a lottery, upon which Hell might
be written on one and Heaven on the other, with what care
would you not try to draw out that one, upon which Paradise was written?
O God, how must those unhappy wretches tremble who are condemned to throw the die upon which their life or death depends! What fear will be yours when you will find yourself near to that last moment; when you will say:
“Upon this moment, which is drawing so near, depends my eternal life or death!
Now, it is to be decided whether I shall be forever blessed, or forever miserable.”
Sr Bernardine of Sienna tells of a certain Prince who, when dying, in great terror, exclaimed:
“I have many lands and palaces in this world but if I should die during this night, I know not what lodging will be mine!”
My brother, if thou believest that thou hast to die and there is an eternity and, once only thou canst die, so if thou once makest a mistake, the mistake will be forever without any hope of remedy, why is it, thou dost not begin, from this moment, in which thou readest these words, to do all which liest in thy power, to secure for thyself, a happy death?
S Andrew Avellino said tremblingly:
“Who knows what will be my lot in the life to come?
Whether I shall be saved or condemned to eternal death?” St Louis Bertrand also trembled so much, he was unable to take rest because of this thought which would suggest itself to him:
“Who knows whether thou wilt be lost?”
And thou, who has committed so many sins, dost thou not tremble? Be quick and make amends in time; resolve to give thyself indeed to God and begin, at least from this time forward, a life, the remembrance of which, may not grieve but may fill thee with joy at the hour of death. Give thyself to prayer, frequent the Sacraments, quit dangerous occasions, and, if necessary, leave even the world, so that thou mayest secure to thyself an eternal salvation and understand, to secure this eternal life, no precaution can be too great!
Affections andPrayers
O my dear Saviour, how much am I not indebted to Thee!
How couldst Thou bestow so many favours upon one so ungrateful; upon such a traitor as I have been to Thee?
Thou hast created me and in creating me Thou didst foresee all the offences I should commit against Thee.
Thou didst redeem me by dying for me and even then, Thou didst know of all the ingratitude I should show towards Thee.
When I was placed in this world, I turned away from Thee and thus, was I dead indeed in sin, until Thou, with Thy grace didst restore me to life.
I was blind and Thou didst enlighten me.
I had lost Thee and Thou didst enable me to find Thee.
I was Thy enemy and Thou didst make me Thy friend.
O God of mercy, grant me to feel how deeply I am indebted to Thee and make me mourn over my offences against Thee. Avenge Thyself upon me by making me very sorry for my sins but do not punish me by depriving me of Thy grace and of Thy love.
O Eternal Father, I detest and abhor more than any other evil, the offences I have committed against Thee. Have mercy upon me, for the love of Jesus Christ. Behold Thy Son upon the Cross. “His Blood be upon me.”
May that Divine Blood flow down and wash my soul.
O King of my heart, “Thy Kingdom come!”
I am resolved to drive away every affection that is not
felt for Thee. I love Thee more than anything; come and
reign alone in my soul. Let me love Thee and let me love
Thee only! I would please Thee as much as it is possible and I would give Thee entire satisfaction during the life which remains to me. Bless, O my Father, this my desire and give me grace ever to be one with Thee.
I consecrate all my affections to Thee and, from this day forward, I would be Thine alone, Who art my Treasure, my Peace, my Hope, my Love, my All and, all this I hope for through the merits of Thy Dearly Beloved Son.
AnaStpaul 