The hermit answered, saying, " Brother, between me and God there is only the wall of this my body; now I can see falling into pieces that which was my prison, and I am going to see God; and therefore it is that I comfort myself and sing." This longing to see God, made S. Ignatius the martyr say, that if the wild beasts did not come to take away his life, that he would irritate them, and thus provoke them to devour him. Catherine of Genoa would not allow any one to consider death a misfortune, for she said, " O beloved death, how ungraciously art thou welcomed! and why do you not come to me, when I call upon thee day and night?" S. Teresa desired death so much that she considered it death not to die, and accordingly she composed that celebrated hymn, " I die, because I do not die." Even such is death to the saints.
Affections and Prayers.
Ah my Sovereign Good, my God! if during the years that are past, I have not loved Thee, now will I be converted to Thee. I bid farewell to every creature, and I choose to love Thee alone, my sweetest Saviour. Tell me what Thou wishest me to do, that I may do it. I have already committed offences enough against Thee. The life that remains to me, I would wish to spend it all in pleasing Thee. Give me strength, in some way to atone with my love for the ingratitude, which, until now, I have shown towards Thee. I have deserved, all these years, to be cast into everlasting punishment. Thou hast sought me so many times, that at last Thou hast drawn me to Thee; let me now burn with the fire of Thy holy love. I love Thee, O Thou Infinite Good, Thou wishest me to love Thee only; and with reason, for Thou hast loved me more than all, and Thou alone art worthy to be loved, and I will love Thee only, for I would do all I can to please Thee. Do with me as Thou wilt. It is enough that I love Thee; and that Thou lovest me.
Third Point.
How is it then, that he can fear death, who hopes to be
