truly the Mother of all the living)[1] we have partaken of the Fruit of life. And therefore it is that she is justly honoured throughout the whole world, as being, as it were, the Patroness both of life and of death. And indeed the pious custom of many has now been everywhere adopted, of saying for one another reciprocally the Litany commonly known as that of Loretto, for a happy death.
With this intent the frequent use of the Angelical Salutation at each of the Hours has been recommended to Christs faithful by Pope Paul V., with an indulgence of one hundred days if to the Salutation be especially added a petition for the assistance and intercession of our blessed Mother at the hour of our death. And she assuredly will not fail faithfully to protect her clients at their death, who stood by her Son when dying upon the Cross, and has hence merited the privilege of exercising, as it were, an especial patronage over the dying.
Hence it is clear that the title of the Virgin Mother of God to our honour rests for the most part on the assistance which, as their Patroness and Mother, she ever renders to her faithful clients at the hour of death. Oh, how many has she snatched from the gulf of hell! how many has she restored to the grace of her Son and to heaven! Of this there are numerous examples occurring everywhere in history, and in writers who treat of the great things done by the most holy Virgin. Thence search them out for thyself, and likewise endeavour to obtain a happy death by the aid of the Mother of Life. And to this end, with a loving heart, frequently exclaim,
Mary, Mother of grace!
Mother of mercy!
Do thou protect us from the enemy,
And receive us in the hour of death!
CHAPTER I.
Colloquy between Christ and Man on the way to live and die well and happily.
§ 1. Motives urged for being careful to die well.
All flesh is grass, and all the glory thereof as the flower of the field. The grass is withered, and the flower is fallen.[2]
Christ. Behold, O man, what thy life is upon the earth! Grass, that is green
