did he even recollect one single case in the whole course of his forty years' experience, one single case of a sinner being reclaimed, on recovery from a dangerous illness. Perhaps yes, a solitary case, or two, or three, or perhaps not even one at all. Alas! how true, that as men live so do they die.

But, perhaps, some one will say, that I make an exaggerated supposition. If any one would say so, I am furnished with a reply, which is put into my mouth by the declarations of saints of God, whose testimony we must accept with respect as due to their sanctity. Quote St. Jerome: "Out of a hundred thousand who continue in sin, scarcely one will be saved." St. Vincent Ferrer says, "that it is a greater miracle to save such sinners than to raise the dead to life." Other saints had visions, in which they saw sinners falling into hell like flakes of snow in a snow-storm. Explain by stating the death rate of the human race to be approximately, in round numbers, more than one a second, 80 a minute, 5,000 an hour, 120,000 a day, 40,000,000 a year.

Describe the death of a sinner, from the beginning of his illness to his death; showing how the thought of death is kept away till the last; that everything is done to cure the body but nothing to cure the soul; that the priest is at length sent for. Describe the sentiments of the priest, the administration of the Sacraments, whilst the sufferer is in a state of half, if not entire, insensibility; the uselessness of the obsequies, if his soul be at the time buried in hell, &c.

CONCLUSION.

Conclude by asking, who would not be horrified at the idea of dying such a death? and call out to the sinner, if guilty of only one mortal sin, to hurry to the tribunal of Penance, and to be reconciled with that God "who wills not the death of the sinner, but that he be converted and live." (Ezec. xxxiii. 11.)

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”—Ps. cxv. 15.

INTRODUCTION.

Observe that every one desires happiness; that this desire cannot be satisfied in this life; that we must look therefore to the world to come for its satisfaction; that it is only by a holy death we can attain that happiness; and that, consequently, nothing can be of greater consequence to us than to secure for ourselves such a death. Therefore it is, that the Psalmist declares in the words of the text, "Precious in the sight," &c.

[Announce the subject. Bespeak attention, and invoke a blessing.]

BODY OF THE SUBJECT.

A person undertaking a long and important journey, has his thoughts engaged with three considerations: Ist, the preparation he is to make; 2ndly, the journey itself; and 3rdly, his arrival at his destination. So also the Christian, having before him the great and important journey he must make sooner or later, from time to eternity, should have constantly before his mind the same three things: what preparation he is

to make, &c. These therefore are to be the divisions of the subject.

1. The Preparation. Lay down the general principle, that men die as they live; and infer that to die a happy death our life throughout must be a preparation for it. Hence our Saviour brings so solemnly before our minds the uncertainty of death, and exhorts us to be always on the watch and ready. (Recite the passages, uniting them, as if all said at the same time.) Hence the Christian desirous of a happy death has, in the first place, the thought of death constantly before his mind. When he hears of any one dying, or sees a funeral, he takes to himself the warning, "Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so: yesterday for me, and today for thee." (Eccli. xxxviii. 23.) Relate the example of St. Francis Borgia accompanying the dead body of the Empress Isabella to Granada (Lives of the Saints, Oct. 10th); or that of St. Sylvester (Nov. 26, 5th lesson of his office, Breviary, Sup.) Mention other occasions, such as the beginning of a new year, the beginning of Lent, each time he goes to confession, &c., &c. Recite, how many of the saints are represented with a death's head before them at their prayers and studies, how nuns of certain communities have also a death's head attached to their beads, how many pious persons provide beforehand the religious habit, in which they wish their remains to be wrapped up; all this to keep before their minds the thought of death, and their obligation to prepare for it. Recite the fact of the emperor Charles V., having a Mass of the dead celebrated for himself, whilst yet alive, in anticipation of his death, he being in a coffin, as if dead, during the time.

In the second place, a good Christian does not stop at the bare thought of death; but, having this thought before his mind, he is constantly on the watch, as our Saviour so earnestly inculcates, that is, he is on his guard against everything that would expose him to the danger of a bad death. Hence he has a constant dread of mortal sin; and if yielding to temptation at any time, he has the misfortune to fall into mortal sin, he seeks to make his peace with God

immediately, by acts of perfect contrition and going to confession, as soon as he can. Here remonstrate against the recklessness of delaying confession to Easter, or Christmas, pointing out how differently people act in case of illness, which they seek to have cured without delay.

Thirdly, a Christian desirous of a happy death makes a general confession sometime or another. (Give very briefly reasons for a general confession.)

Fourthly, he has the habit, if at all convenient, of frequently approaching the Sacraments of Penance, and the Holy Communion. Quote the words, "Many are called but few are chosen" (Matt. xx. 16.); and urge that to be amongst the few we must live and act as they do. Observe further, that in war two things are specially necessary, viz., food and medicine, and on this account nothing is more carefully looked to than the commissariat, to provide food for the soldiers, and a medical staff to attend to their wounds and other diseases. Apply the comparison, by noticing that man's life is a continual warfare, and that God has provided us with food and medicine in these two Sacraments.

Fifthly, he has his will made, whilst he is yet in health, (a reason or two for doing so, and remonstrate against reserving it for the last illness.)

Sixthly, he constantly prays for the grace of a happy death. Urge this practice by quoting the words, "Man knoweth not whether he be deserving of love or hatred" (Eccles. ix. 1.); observing, that the greatest saints trembled as they looked forward to death, and therefore felt the obligation of praying for the grace of a happy death.

Seventhly, you may mention and recommend the devotion of "Bona Mors," or the practice of a preparation for death, on one Sunday in the month, and going to Holy Communion with that intention.

Eighthly, you may also recommend praying for the dead, by the motive, that the souls released from Purgatory by our prayers exert their influence in the court of heaven, to obtain for us the grace of a happy death.

After disposing of these means of preparation, wind up by observing, it is in this way that a Christian truly desirous of a happy death endeavours to live, never losing sight of the principle that men generally die as they live, and that to die a good death, we must, as a general rule, lead a good life, or, our whole life should be a preparation for death.

2. The Journey itself. This is the second matter of concern for a traveller so likewise, when any serious sickness comes, we are to consider we are then actually upon our journey to the other world. Quote the parable of girding the loins. (Luke, xii. 35, &c.), and apply it to sickness, using the authority of St. Gregory (see 9th lesson in the office of a Confessor non-Pontiff). Always on the watch during life, he feels he has special reason, when visited by sickness, not to be taken off his guard. He accordingly acknowledges the law, that we are not to know the day nor the hour when the Son of Man will come, as He Himself has declared, He will come at an hour when we think not, and as a thief in the night. Consequently he says to himself, "This may be my last sickness; at all events, I should prepare as if it were so. If I recover, the preparation I make now will do me no harm, on the contrary, a great deal of good; and thousands have been lost by flattering themselves, that they were to recover, when they were overtaken by death." Accordingly, he resigns himself, nay, he conforms himself to the good will of God, saying. (Here suggest various acts of resignation and conformity, adding that it was in these sentiments St. Paul expressed himself when, writing to the Corinthians, he said, "For we know," &c., 2 Cor. v. 1-10.)

He takes care to have the priest sent for in proper time. Observe here, it is now the good Christian experiences the happiness of having had the practice of frequenting the Sacraments, whilst in health. Accompany the patient in the dispositions, which he has in receiving the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Viaticum, as also Extreme Unction. Depict the peace of mind, in which he is after receiving these aids of religion, making himself express his sentiments. When the priest has gone, the patient has a crucifix and a