Simple Thoughts on the Rosary: Glorious Mysteries: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
It is good for me to understand and feel that in the trials and difficulties of daily life, no less than in its moments of crisis, my best of friends is my Creator; His bosom my resting-place; His arms my refuge; His strength my safety; His Providence my trust; His love my all in all. “For what have I in Heaven but Thee, and beside Thee what do I desire upon earth” (Ps. 72). “Ecce ancilla!”
And if in life, much more in death, it is good for me to cleave to my God, to cling to Him in complete abandonment, in perfect trust. Let me lay myself down in His arms to die. And waking there in the next life, like a child from sleep, let me realise as I look up into His face, realise through a happy eternity, that it was indeed good for me to adhere to my God, to put my trust in the Lord God.
VI.—The souls of the just are in the hand of God and the torment of death shall not touch them.—Wisd. iii.
Death shall touch us every one, but the saints, safe in the hand of God, shall not feel its torment. What is that torment?
Three things are wont to assail and torture the dying:
(1) The remembrance of past sins; of time, and grace, and opportunities lost, and lost—for ever.
(2) The present anguish of mind and body, caused by physical and mental distress; by the coming separation from family, friends, possessions, life, all the heart holds dear; by the temptations of the Evil One who knows his time is short.
(3) The uncertain future—eternity close at hand; the fear of the judgments of God: “Man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love or of hatred” (Eccles. 9).
This is the “torment” that waits upon the deathbed. What is there to prevent the trembling soul from sinking into despair? “Underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33) to sustain, and shield, and shelter it. God has at hand for that hour the grace of His sacraments to allay the torment of death, even to remove it altogether and change it into a foretaste of eternal joy. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps. 115). “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; from henceforth they may rest from their labours for their works follow them” (Apoc. 14).
“Their works.” We must have done our work if we are to lie down trustfully to our rest in the arms of our Heavenly Father. We must have done our work if we are to expect His recompense. “Work your work before the time and He will give you your reward in His time” (Ecclus. 51). We must have so lived our life that He can make our retrospect as we lie down to die a happy and a hopeful one. We must have washed our robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb if we are to be fit to appear before Him. We must have used time, and grace, and opportunity whilst they were ours. God Himself cannot restore them when the end has come. “Walk whilst you have the light, that the darkness overtake you not” (John 12).
We must have schooled ourselves to submission to God’s Will in physical and mental trials. We must have been in the world but not of it; held its fleeting goods with a loose hand, and let Him who gave, take away, as it pleased Him.
We must have learned to trust Him with so perfect a reliance during our journey on earth, that we can cast ourselves into His arms with a child’s unquestioning faith when He calls us Home. The holiest, safest, most meritorious preparation for death, is this complete abandonment to our Heavenly Father for any disposal He may make of us in time and eternity.
For those who have thus lived in the hand of God during life, death has no terrors, its torment shall not touch them.
VII.—May my soul die the death of the just, and my last end be like unto theirs.—Numb. xxiii.
My God, I commend to Thy Fatherly keeping the most momentous hour of my life, the hour on which eternity hangs—the hour of my death.
Let it come when Thou seest me best prepared. Let it come with that time for preparation which Thou seest best, and attended by the circumstances which Thou who knowest my need shalt appoint—so much of physical pain, of temptation, of mental suffering as will be for my greater good, and no more; so much spiritual assistance and consolation as will profit me.
If, as I hope, Thou hast in store for me the last succours of the Church, let me bring to them such preparation as will enable me to draw from them abundant fruit. Let me leave nothing to be said in my last confession, but put all straight with Thee now. Help me in my last hour to make an act of perfect contrition—of sorrow because I have dishonoured and wronged Thee, my Father, by the sins of my life.
I shall be very weak then and wandering, weary, and in pain of body and mind. I cannot expect, dear Lord, that my preparation for receiving Thee in Holy Communion for the last time will be better than it is now when I am in health. Accept what I shall be able to give Thee. Help me to make my acts of faith and hope and charity, of humility and desire. Help me in my thanksgiving. Come to me then with all the help I shall need for the last passage—faith to hold fast all that Thy Church teaches; trust to cling fast to Thee in spite of the terrifying sight of my sins; patience to take from Thy hand all the pains and sorrows of death; confidence to cast myself into Thy arms for time and eternity, trusting to Thy Sacred Heart the sentence that is to decide my eternal lot.
Prepare me Thyself for the last holy anointing. Purify my soul from the last relics of sin by the touch of Thy Church in Extreme Unction. Forgive me all my misuse of my senses throughout my life.
Let me benefit to the full by the Last Blessing and Plenary Indulgence. Put into my soul so deep a sorrow for my sins that the whole temporal punishment they have deserved may be remitted.
And then, when the Church has laid her hand upon me for the last time, and is giving me up into Thy hands, receive me, O my Saviour, with loving-kindness and with mercy. May my trembling soul depart in the safe keeping of Thy holy Mother, under the protection of Michael, “the prince of all the souls to be received,” and of my holy Angel Guardian. Thus let me be brought into Thy presence. Thus let me look up into Thy face, and hear Thee say: “Come, blessed of My Father, come!”
VIII.—God will show His brightness in thee, to every one under heaven.—Baruch v.
(1) Thou shalt no more have the sun for thy light by day, neither shall the brightness of the moon enlighten thee, for the Lord shall be unto thee for an everlasting light, and thy God for thy glory (Isaias 60).
(2) Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God (Isaias 62).
(3) Go in to the King, and entreat Him for thy people. Who knoweth whether thou art not therefore come to the kingdom that thou mightest be ready in such a time as this? (Esther 4).
(4) Do thou speak to the King for us, and deliver us from death (Esther 15).
(5) And she said to the King: I desire one small petition of Thee. And the King said to her: My Mother ask for I must not turn away thy face (III. Kings 2).
(6) She spoke to Him all that she had in her heart.... And the King gave her all that she desired and asked of Him (III. Kings 10).