Thoughts this Lent

It was a privilege to hear this before the imposition of the ashes. I thank God for this. 

the four last things:

Death

Judgment

Hell

Heaven

And to help us with this meditation, I found this online, it may be useful for you, it will be useful for me. I pray that it will be Deo volente that I will be able to read all I want to read and fulfil all my lenten resolutions - the BEST time of the year, really, because it is so meaningful, even with all it's fastings and abstinences and all the crosses. 

I found this on www.catholictradition.org

THE FOUR LAST THINGS ---- DEATH, JUDGMENT, HELL and HEAVEN by 

FATHER MARTIN VON COCHEM, O.S.F.C. 

Father Martin von Cochem was born at Cochem, on the Moselle, in the year 1625, and died at Waghausel in 1712.

“Remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin.”

HOLY REDEEMER LIBRARY

Nihil Obstat: Thomas L Kinkead,  

Censor Liborium

Imprimatur: Michael Augustine --- Archbishop of New York (New York October 5, 1899)

Copyright, 1899, by Benziger Brothers

Generously contributed by Derrick D'Costa.

PRAYERS FROM THE RACCOLTA

TO OUR LADY (642) 

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. O Refuge of sinners, Mother of the dying, do not forsake us at the hour of our death. Obtain for us the grace of perfect sorrow, sincere contrition, the pardon and remission of our sins, a worthy receiving of the holy Viaticum, and the consolation of the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, in order that we may appear with greater security before the throne of the just but merciful Judge, our God and our Redeemer. Amen. 

TO OUR LORD JESUS (643)

Grant unto us, Lord Jesus, ever to follow the example of Thy Holy Family, that in the hour of our death Thy glorious Virgin Mother together with blessed Joseph may come to meet us and we may be worthily received by Thee into everlasting dwellings: Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

(644)

Lord Jesus Christ, Who wilIest that no man should perish, and to Whom supplication is never made without the hope of mercy, for Thou saidst with Thine Own holy and blessed lips: "All things whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, shall be done unto you"; I ask of Thee, O Lord, for Thy holy Name's sake, to grant me at the hour of my death full consciousness and the power of speech, sincere contrition for my sins, true faith, firm hope and perfect charity, that I may be able to say unto Thee with a clean heart: Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O God of truth, Who art blessed for ever and ever. Amen (St. Vincent Ferrer). 

(645) 

O my adorable Creator, I ask of Thee the greatest of all Thy graces, that is to say, a holy death. No matter how greatly I have hitherto abused the life Thou gavest me, grant me the grace to end it in Thy holy love. 

Let me die, like the holy Patriarchs, forsaking this valley of tears without sadness, to enter into the joy of eternal rest in my own true country. 

Let me die, like the glorious Saint Joseph, in the arms of Jesus and Mary, repeating in turn each of these sweet Names which I hope to bless throughout eternity. 

Let me die, like the immaculate and blessed Virgin, in the purest love and desire to be reunited to the only object of my love. 

Let me die, like Jesus on the Cross, with the most lively sentiments of hatred for sin, of charity toward Thee, O heavenly Father, and of perfect resignation in my agony. Holy Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit. Be merciful unto me. Jesus, Who didst die for me, grant me the grace of dying in an act of perfect love for Thee.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me now and at the hour of my death. 

My Guardian Angel, my holy Patron Saints, forsake me not at the hour of my death. 

Saint Joseph, obtain for me the grace of dying the death of the just. Amen. 

O my God, sovereign Lord of life and of death, Who, by an immutable decree for the punishment of sin, hast determined that all men must die, behold me humbly kneeling before Thy dread Majesty, resigned and submissive to this law of Thy justice. With all my heart I detest my past sins, by which I have deserved death a thousand times; and for this cause I accept death in reparation for my sins and in obedience to Thy holy will. Yes, great God, send death upon me where Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, and in what manner Thou wilt. Meantime I shall avail myself of the days which it shall please Thee to bestow upon me, to detach myself from this world and to break every tie that holds me in bondage to this place of exile, and to prepare myself to appear with sure confidence before Thy judgment seat. 

Wherefore I surrender myself without reserve into the hands of Thy fatherly Providence. May Thy Divine will be done now and for evermore! Amen. (S. P. Ap., Jan. 15. 1920 and Aug. 18. 1936) 

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Anne, Therese, I love You; Save Souls!

Jesu mitis et humilis corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum. (ter)

Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori.

___________________________________________________________

God of Mercy and Compassion

Giovanni Battista Pergolesi "Stabat Mater"(1736)

O Sanctissima