9781644135945

The Light of the World
prayer for this favor. We pray for it in the Our Father: “Deliver us from evil,” from an unhappy
death. It is as if we prayed, “Give us the grace to continue in grace unto the end.” The second
means is the faithful performance of our religious duties, especially the devout assistance at
Mass. A life of prayer makes our days rich and full; it gives us strength and light, and keeps us
well disposed; therefore it is of the essence of perseverance. If we perform our religious duties
irregularly and unfaithfully, then our spiritual stability and perseverance are in grave danger.
Another means for obtaining the grace of perseverance is the practice of zeal and earnestness
in overcoming sin, even the slightest sin and infidelity. To secure perseverance we have to avoid
the occasions of sin and keep a close watch over our thoughts and senses. A fourth means for
obtaining perseverance is the regular and devout use of the sacraments of penance and Holy
Communion. Our interior development, our progress in virtue, our eternal salvation, and our
perseverance to the end is conditioned to a great extent by our use of the sacraments, which
are a source of grace.
“Nothing is wanting to you in any grace. . . . [Christ] will confirm you unto the end.” “For I desire
not the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God, return ye and live” (Ez 18:32). We believe
in His mercy and in His charity. “And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the man sick of the palsy:
Be of good heart, son, thy sins are forgiven thee” (Gospel). Will He act differently with us if we
believe in Him, trust Him, and perform our duties faithfully?
“Give peace, O Lord, to them that patiently wait for Thee” (Introit). Give them the grace of
a happy death, the grace of perseverance. We cannot merit it even though we are most faithful.
We can obtain it only from Thy mercy. We “wait for Thee” and Thy grace.
The blessed arrival of the Lord at Mass and Holy Communion is the sign of His merciful
return at the hour of our death. This is His promise: He “will confirm you unto the end”
(Epistle). “Bring up sacrifices and come into His courts” (Communion) at the celebration of
the Mass, and come into the dwellings of heaven. “I rejoiced at the things that were said to me:
We shall go into the house of the Lord.”
Prayer
Let the operation of Thy mercy, we beseech Thee, O Lord, direct our hearts; for without Thee
we cannot please Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Friday
“Waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Epistle). Earnestly we pray: “Give
peace, O Lord, to them that wait for Thee” (Introit); give them the peace of eternal life in God.
“I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord,” our
heavenly home (Introit).
“For the fashion of this world passeth away” (1 Cor 7:31). “Behold, Thou hast made my days
measurable and my substance is as nothing before Thee. And indeed all things are vanity, every
man living. Surely man passeth as an image; yea and he is disquieted in vain. He storeth up and
he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these things” (Ps 38:6 ff.). Everything that surrounds
us and pleases and delights us is like a shadow that passes or a wisp of smoke that disappears.
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