ye saints my holy advocates, St. Michael, St. Joseph, and you my holy protectress Mary, help me v now whilst you have it in your power. And thou, my Redeemer, pardon me now whilst thou dost exercise mercy. I am sorry for having offended thee, and I love thee with my whole heart. Assist me, O Lord, and support me, that I may never offend thee more. O Mary, take me for ever to your care.
Meditation Forty-eighth.
On an unprovided death.
I. NOTHING is more certain than death, but nothing more uncertain than the hour of death. It is certain that the year and the day of each one’s death is already determined by our Lord, though we know them not; and wisely does God conceal them from us, in order that we may be always prepared for our departure. I give thee thanks, O Jesus, for having waited for me, and for not having called me out of life in the state of mortal sin. During the remainder of my life I will bewail my iniquities and love thee with all my strength. I know that I must die, and by thy grace I will prepare myself for a good death.
II. Jesus Christ admonishes us of the hour of our death, and when shall it be? when we least expect it. At what hour you think not, the Son of man will come. St. Luke xii. 40. If then, says St. Bernard, death may at any time take us out of life, we should at all times be prepared for it and keep our accounts in order. O Jesus, I will not wait until the moment of my death to give myself to thee. Thou hast said that those who seek thee shall
