Lord in death; this is required by the importance of the affair that has to be settled in His coming. Such is the whole subject, to the end that we may, etc. Continues as above.
FIFTH SERMON.
DEATH COMES BUT ONCE.
Subject.
Our eternal happiness or misery defends on the last moment of our lives, and on that moment alone, because we can die but once; therefore we must do all we can to prepare, so as to be found pure in that moment.—Preached on the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M.
Text.
Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum.—Prov. viii. 22.
“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His ways.”
Introduction.
When the question is asked whether Mary, the ever blessed Virgin, is free from original sin, we consider one single moment, and that is the first moment of her existence in her mother’s womb. Was she free from original sin in that moment? For no Catholic theologian ever doubted that afterwards, to the very end of her most holy life, she was free from even the least stain of actual sin. The whole glory and privilege of the Blessed Virgin, as far as this point is concerned, consists in the very beginning, the first moment of her conception. And that she was immaculate in that moment is an undoubted truth, believed and taught publicly by the greater number, nay, I may say by all who are true, honest servants of Mary. Truly, O most blessed Virgin, we all believe this firmly, and for my part I am ready to shed my blood and give my life in proof of this truth. That privilege belongs to thee, because thou alone, of all mere creatures, hast had the honor of being chosen as the Mother of the Son of God; thou alone hast brought Him into the world. But what thoughts arise in my mind when I consider this? Ah, if I could only be sure of this much good fortune, that as thou wert pure from all sin from the very beginning of thy life, and didst remain
