may never depart from thee by deadly sin. Be pleased likewise to grant me the favor, that I, and all the associates, both now and at the hour of our death, may obtain full remission of our sins, and, being fortified with the Sacraments of thy Holy Church, may, with thee, and by thee, triumph over the devil and death. Amen.
TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.
MOTHER of God, Mother of mercy! I beseech thee, by that cruel sorrow which pierced thy afflicted soul, when, standing under the cross of thy beloved Son, thou didst see him die for our salvation, that thou Wilt please to be favorable to me both now and at the last period of my mortal life. Permit not, oh! great Comforter of sinners! that it be ever said, that thou didst leave a soul in extreme necessity which had recourse to thee: but vouchsafe to look on me, and all associates, with those eyes of tender passion, as then thou didst behold bleeding Jesus, when expiring on Mount Calvary; that with thee we may praise him, the Father, and the Holy Ghost, for all eternity. Amen.
CONSIDERATIONS ON DEATH.
MEDITATION ON THE DESIRE OF DEATH.
FIRST POINT.
IT is a great grace not to be afraid of death; and it is a great perfection to desire it, with a well regulated desire; for what virtue can we possess, which is not included in the desire of death? We may go over every virtue separately, and we will find, that in a well ordered desire of death, all are comprised. The stronger then our desire of death is, the more we shall advance in virtue, and the nearer we shall approach to what God desires us to be.
