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594 CITY OF GOD
creatures of the Most High,
I am the most indebted of all
and under the greatest obligations to submit to his holy
will. If all other creatures are subject to Him, certainly
in me ought to be fulfilled entirely all his pleasure for
time and eternity ;
and thou, my son, shouldst help me in
this fulfillment, as one who knows by how many titles I
In his con
belong body and soul to my God and Lord.
descending mercy He has revealed to me, that the end of
my mortal life is near; and that from the day on which
I have been thus informed, there remain only three more
years of banishment until my passage into eternal life.
I beseech thee, my son, to aid me during this short space
of time, in order that I labor in giving thanks to the
Most High and render Him some return for the immense
blessings I have received of his most liberal love. I beseech
thee from the bottom of my heart, pray for me."
704. These words of the most blessed Mother tore the
heart of saint John, and, unable to restrain his sorrow and
his tears, he answered : Mother
"My
and my Lady, thy
will and that of the Most High I am bound to obey in
whatever Thou commandest, although my merits are far
below what they ought to be and what I desired. But do
Thou, most loving Lady and Mother, help thy poor child,
who is to be left an orphan, deprived of thy most desir
able company."
Saint John could add no more, because
of the sighs and tears pressed from him by his sorrow.
Although the loving Queen encouraged and consoled
him by sweet and efficacious words ; yet on that day the
heart of the Apostle was as pierced by a <3art of pain and
sorrow, which struck him down and caused him to wither,
like the flowers in their bloom, which, when at evening
they are about to be deprived of the sun and, after hav
ing followed and been rejoiced in its light
in its course
during the day, sadden and close up at evening. Lest
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