The paradise of the Christian soul/Chap. XI. Protestations to be made very often, and mostly before Death, by one who desires to live and die like a Christian
CHAPTER XI.
Protestations to be made very often,
AND MOSTLY BEFORE DEATH, BY ONE WHO DESIRES TO LIVE AND DIE LIKE A CHRISTIAN.
I.
First, I protest that, with all readiness of soul, I accept from the divine Providence this and all other crosses and diseases whatsoever, and even death itself; most fully submitting my own will to the divine Will; and acknowledging myself to be most deserving, for my numberless sins, not only of this affliction, infirmity, and death, but also of every other more heavy punishment, and even of hell itself.
I accept, moreover, this sickness and death in reverence of the most holy Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ; uniting the pains, troubles, and afflictions which I suffer to the afflictions, troubles, and most bitter agonies which he endured in his Life, Passion, and Death; and humbly entreating him to vouchsafe to accept them in lieu of the pains which I acknowledge to be due to me in Purgatory for the punishment of my numberless sins, and so for the remission of my faults, especially those which weigh most upon my conscience, and which I now wish had been confessed with greater care, and obliterated by a more earnest satisfaction.
II.
I protest that, as I have lived hitherto in the true Faith of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, and have most firmly believed whatsoever she has believed and proposed to me to be believed, and in particular the articles of the Apostles' Creed, so do I desire to die in the same Faith: and therefore, confessing the same, I say: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, &c., understanding them all in the same sense in which Holy Mother Church has ever understood them.
III.
I protest that I most humbly ask pardon of all my sins committed against the divine Majesty, my neighbour, and myself, by thought, word, deed, and omission in the observance of the commandments of God, the precepts of the Church [the rule and constitutions which I have professed], in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, in the abuse of the Sacraments, and in the careless custody of my senses. For all my sins, mortal or venial, secret, or caused by myself in others, I beseech pardon of my God, through his infinite goodness and mercy, through the merits of the Life, Passion, and Death of His Son, my Lord Jesus Christ; through the most powerful intercession of the most glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ; through the aid of all the Angels and Saints of the Heavenly Court, and especially of my Patrons. And I most humbly beg of the divine Goodness to vouchsafe, out of so vast a treasure, to supply all my defects committed in Sacramental Confession, and even now, at the last, to grant me true and sincere contrition for all my sins.
IV.
I protest that I forgive from my soul all who have ever, in any way soever, injured or offended me, nay, I beg of the divine Bounty for them all the blessings which I desire for my own soul; and I ask pardon, moreover, if I have given them occasion to offend me; and pray Almighty God to give me a deep and lively sense of this in my heart, that I may be able truly and sincerely to say, Forgive me my debts, even as I forgive my debtors.
V.
I protest that I most humbly ask pardon, with all my heart, of all whom, by bad example, deeds, words, or in any way soever, I have knowingly or ignorantly offended, and am most ready to offer myself to make every satisfaction; and I earnestly pray God, if I have injured or defrauded any one, to recall it to my memory, and to grant me the sincere will and full power to make reparation for every injury before I die.
VI.
I protest that, in thought, word, and deed, I am inadequate to the divine Goodness, and that I am utterly unable to respond to the infinite benefits and graces which, universal and particular, public and private, open and secret, thou, O my Lord, hast bestowed upon me; and therefore, prostrate at thy most sacred Feet, I give thee all the thanks I am able, with the utmost affection of my soul.
Therefore I call upon thy most blessed Virgin Mother, my Patroness, the holy Angels, and especially my Guardian, and all the Saints of the Heavenly Court, especially, my Patrons and Advocates, by their thanksgivings, to supply my deficiency, and my signal ingratitude, for which I am sorry, and entreat for pardon. And since this is so, would that I had as many tongues and hearts as there are creatures in the world, stars in heaven, leaves upon the trees, sands on the sea-shore, that my song might make some approach towards the fitting measure of my thanksgiving to thee! And therefore I take up the prophet’s words and say:
All ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
Praise the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the high places.
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and let all that is within me bless his holy Name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and never forget all that he hath done for thee.
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall be always in my mouth.
In like manner I thank all those who have rendered me any benefit, whether corporal or spiritual, especially those who have instructed, corrected, and admonished me; or of their charity have given me any occasion of meriting well of my most dear Jesus.
VII.
I protest that I wish to live and die fortified with the merits of the Passion, Death, and Blood-shedding of my Saviour; and with the Patronage of the most glorious Virgin, and of all the Saints of the Church, and of those besides who are now living or shall live to the end of the world; all of which I offer to God for the remission of all my sins, and in thanksgiving for all the blessings I have received from the Divine Majesty.
VIII.
From this time forward, for the hour of my death, I implore the most blessed Virgin, my Guardian Angel, and all the Saints, by their effectual prayers and merits, to obtain for me, as long as I live, and especially at the hour of my death, true faith, sure hope, ardent charity, unshaken fortitude, deep humility, invincible patience, with all other virtues that are needful to me for the rest of my life, and at the moment of my death. And therefore, from this time forward, for that time, I say:
Mary, Mother of grace. Mother of mercy,
Defend us, thou, from the enemy,
And receive us at the hour of death!
All ye Saints of God, intercede for me, that I may he worthy to die in the grace of Christ!
IX.
I protest that, if, by the permission of God, in my lifetime or at my death, my malignant enemy assail me with any temptation whatsoever, it is my will not to consent to it, tacitly or expressly, by sign, or word, or deed; therefore now, for then, I revoke, cancel, and abhor all thoughts whatsoever that the devil may suggest to me; for it is my will to adhere only to God my Creator, and to be faithful to him to the end; henceforth finally and entirely renouncing Satan, with all his works and suggestions.
X.
Lastly, I commend myself to God my Creator, who made it out of nothing; to Christ my Saviour, who redeemed it by his own Blood and Death; to the Holy Ghost, who sanctified it for himself in Baptism. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my Spirit. O God, be merciful to me a sinner!
In like manner, I protest that, when in my agony my tongue can speak no more, in soul at least I would desire to be united to my God; and I offer to him now, for then, my agony, my pains, my sweats and sufferings, to be united to the Agony, the Bloody Sweat, the pains and sufferings of my most dear Saviour, Jesus Christ, for the remission of my sins, and for his eternal glory: and with all my heart I implore all the Angels who stand before him to defend me with their faithful protection at that moment of my death.