Preparation for death; or, Considerations on the eternal maxims

1854·21.7 MB·English

by  Liguori, Alphonso M. de, Saint. [from old catalog]

—
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