vein of piety, which runs through his works surpasses his science, or whether his learning exceeds his piety" — after having explained the fifty properties of divine love mentioned in the Canticles, expired at the close of three days, smiling, and pronouncing these words of the same sacred text: "Thy love, O God, is strong as death" (Cant. viii. 6).
The fervour and ardour of St. Martin at the hour of his death are remarkable. St. Louis, who has proved himself as great a monarch among the Saints as an eminent saint among kings, being attacked by the plague, ceased not to pray, and after receiving the viaticum, he extended his arms in the form of a cross, fixed his eyes on heaven, and, animated with love and confidence, expired in saying with the Psalmist: "I will come into Thy house, O Lord; I will worship towards Thy holy temple, in Thy fear" (Ps.v. 8).
St. Peter Celestine, after having endured the most cruel and incredible afflictions, seeing the end of his days approach, began to sing like the swan, and terminated his song with his life, by these words of the last Psalm: "Let every spirit praise the Lord" (Ps. cl. 5).
St. Eusebia, surnamed the Stranger, died kneeling in fervent prayer. St. Peter the Martyr yielded his last sigh in writing (with his finger, which he had dipped in his blood) the articles of the faith for which he sacrificed his life, and in saying: "Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit " (Ps. xxx. 6).
The great apostle of the Indies and Japan, St. Francis Xavier, expired holding a crucifix, which he tenderly embraced, and incessantly repeated in transports of love: "O Jesus! the God of my heart!"
