— r« LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 31 4 Chap $ Shelf ;^c^ I r^S-^^^ i UNITED STATES: OF AMERICA, i^ PREPARATION FOR DEATH; OR, CONSIDERATIONS ON THE ETERNAL MAXIMS. USEFUL FOR ALL AS A BOOK OF MEDITATIONS, ETC. BY ST. ALPHONSUS M. LIGUORI, BISHOP or ST. AGATHA OF THE GOTHS, AND FOUNDER OF THE COK* GREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER. TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN, BY A CATHOLIC CLERGYMAN. APPROVED BY THE RIGHT REVEREND BISHOP FITZPATRICK. EIGHTH EDITION. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY THOMAS SWEENEY. 1854. 9^ APPROBATION. We give our approbation tothe publication ofthisvol- ume of Meditations, entitled "Preparation for Death/ The illustrious sanctity of the author, and his canoniza- tion bytheHolyCatholicChurch,are a sufficient evidence of the purity and excellence of the doctrine which they contain. We recommend to the faithful atlarge the use of this volume, as most profitable for their spiritual advantage. ^ JOHN BERNARD, Bishop of Boston, PROTESTATION OF ST. LIGUORI. In obedience to the decrees of Urban VHL, I protest that, of the miraculous works and gifts ascribed, inthis work,to certainservantsofGod,andnotalready approved by the Holy See, I claim no other belief tlian that which is ordinarily given to history resting on mere human au- thority; and that, in bestowing the title of Saint, or of Blessed, on any person notcanonized or beatified by the church, 1 only intend to do itaccording to the usage and opinion of men. TO THE IMMACULATE AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY: TO HER WHO IS FULL OF GRACE, AND BLESSED AMONG ALL THE CHILDREN OF ADAM: TO THE DOVE, THE TURTLE, THE BELOVED OF GOD: HONOR OF THE HUMAN RACE, DELIGHT OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY: HOUSE OF LOVE, EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY, MIRROR OF ALL VIRTUES : MOTHER OF FAIR LOVE, MOTHER OF HOLY HOPE, • AND MOTHER OF MERCY: ADVOCATE OF THE MISERABLE, DEFENCE OF THE "WEAK, LIGHT OF THE BLIND, PHYSICIAN OF THE SICK; GATE OF HEAVEN: ANCHOR OF CONFIDENCE, CITY OF REFUGE, ARK OF LIFE, RAINBOW OF PEACE, HAVEN OF SALVATION: STAR OF THE SEA, AND SEA OF SWEETNESS: ADVOCATE OF SINNERS, HOPE OF THOSE WHO ARE IN DESPAIR, HELP OF THE ABANDONED : COMFORTEROFTHE AFFLICTED, CONSOLATION OF THE DYING, AND JOY OF THE WORLD: HER AFFECTIONATE AND LOVING, THOUGH TILE AND UNWORTHY, SERVANT HUMBLY DEDICATES THIS WORK. CONTENTS. PAOK. Object of ths Work, 5 Consideration, I. PictureofaManwhoisbutashortTimegonetoEternity, 9 ir. WithDeathallends, 18 III. ShortnessofLife, 26 IV. CertaintyofDeath 34 V. UncertaintyoftheHour ofDeath, 42 VI. Deathofthe Sinner, 51 VII. SentimentsofaDyingChristian, 61 VIII. DeathoftheJust, 71 IX. SoulsoftheJustareintheHandsofGod, 82 X. MeansofPreparing forDeath, 92 XI. Value ofTime, 101 XII. ImportanceofSalvation, 110 XXIIIVI.. VTahneitPyreosfenttheLiWfoerlisda,JourneytoEternity, 112209 XV. MaliceofMortalSin, 138 XVL MercyofGod, 148 XVIL Abuse ofDivineMercy, 156 XVin. NumberofSins, 167 XIX. ThGereaGtreEavtilAodfvabneitnaggeisn EofnmtihteyGwriatcheGoofd,Godj and the 178 XX. FollyofSinners, 186 XXI. UnChhraipsptiyanLiwfheoolfovtehseGSoidn,ner; and Happy Life ofthe 196 XXn. EvilHabits, 206 XXIII. TheDelusionswhich theDevilsuggeststoSinners, 217 XXIV. Particular Judgment, .' 226 XXV. GeneralJudgment, 236 XXVL Pains ofHell, 247 XXVIL EternityofHell, 258 XXVIIL Remorseofthe Damned, 269 XXIX. OnHeaven, 276 XXX. OnPrayer, 288 XXXL OnPerseverance, 298 XXXII. OnConfidenceinthePatronageoftheMostHolyMary,.312 XXXXXXIIVI.L OOnntthheeLHoolvyeCoofmGmoudn,ion, 333233 XXXV. OntheLovingDwellingofJesusChriston theAltarsof theMostHolySacrament, 346 XXXVL OnConformitytotheWillofGod, 357 Protestation of Death, * 336 Preparation for Death, 371 AChristianinhisLastAgonyaddressingJesusontheCross, 374 Acts to be made at Death, • 376 Sighs after the Land of Bliss, 379 On the Science of the Saints, 382 MoTifEs AND Affections to be suggested to the Dyinq, 386