man will leave things with joy at his happy death. first time at the end of life, then we shall see and know with what a poor handmaid we have had to do, and how wretched and miserable life is in this world. And he who dies a happy death then be able to say with joy: oh, how vile the things I leave behind me; and how precious the treasures I am about to receive in exchange for them from the faithful God whom I have served! My money and all my possessions I willingly leave to those who are to come after me; I have brought nothing into the world, I shall take nothing out of it. But oh, what happiness! In a short time I shall hear the joyful invitation of the Lord: “Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things I will place thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”[1] Enter into the city whose pavement is of pure gold, whose walls are of diamonds and precious stones, as St. John describes heaven in the Apocalypse. There there will be abundance without want; treasures and riches without end, and no fear of ever losing them. My honor before the world, my dignity and reputation I leave to another, who will take my place; it is not worth much in any case, and in exchange for it I shall receive the crown of glory to reign with the sovereign Monarch of heaven and earth, according to His own promise: “Where I am, there also shall my minister be;”[2] I shall become like to Him, as the same St. John says: “When He shall appear, we shall be like to Him.”[3] Could I wish for a greater honor and dignity?
No matter how dear they may have been to him. I leave what I hitherto loved: parents, children, friends, and relations; I have seen them for the last time in this mortal life; but after all that is no great hardship! For what delightful company awaits me in heaven in the many millions of angels, holy martyrs, confessors, and virgins, who rejoice together with the most perfect mutual love in God! I shall see Mary, the most pure virgin, my dearest Mother, whom I have so longed to behold; nay, I shall rejoice forever in the most intimate friendship of infinite beauty, God Himself. I must leave, once for all, all earthly delights, such as those I found in eating, drinking, amusing myself; but what miserable things those are in comparison with the indescribable joys that await me at that table of which Our Lord speaks: “And I dispose to you, as My Father
