The paradise of the Christian soul/Chap. XIII. Method of treating the Sick, especially the Dying.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Method of Treating the Sick.
ESPECIALLY THE DYING.
This is too extensive and oft-treated a subject to be confined within the narrow remaining limits of the Para- dise. It will be discussed more fully in the Instructor of the Sick and Dying, which, with the blessing of God, shall be presented to the good reader. We shall merely content ourselves, at this time, with a summary discussion of it.
If there is any time that calls more than another for the exercise of Christian charity on the part of one who has it at heart, it is when he is in attendance on the sick and the dying. Then it is that the cause of a whole eternity is to be advocated, and that the issue of life is at stake. Is that a moment to leave the sick man destitute of all seasonable aid, to advance, in a crisis so full of hazard, single-handed to the combat f
Away, then, with all idle and curious lookers-on; but let such good people be present as, by their counsel, their encouragement, and their prayers, may aid the dying person in that arduous conflict, and direct him to a happy departure.
Their principal care, however, should be to secure the exercise of contrition, faith, hope,, charity, and resignation; that is, that the dying person should conceive an earnest sorrow for his sins, and make lively and effectual acts of faith, hope, and love towards God and his neighbour; resign and conform himself wholly to the divine Will; place his fixed reliance on the infinite mercy of God, &c.
There is scattered throughout the Paradise much that will furnish suggestions proper for this object; of which we will note down those portions which occur to us for the good reader's convenience.
Remember, however, that as in sickness the head is weak, arid the reason confused in proportion to the violence of the disease, so ought such suggestions not to be crowded hurriedly together on the mind, but made gradually, gently, and at intervals, that time also may be given for such reflection upon what is said as may turn it to the account of the hearer. Oil poured into a lamp too copiously and impetuously does not feed, but extinguish it. Heavy rain ploughs up or washes away fallow ground; but when it falls gently, by penetrating softly, it moistens and fertilises the soil.
It may easily be seen how much mischief is done to the sick in this particular, when, by reading or talking to them too much, the mind is disturbed by the introduction of matter that is beside, or little to the purpose.
Whoever, then, would employ the Paradise for the benefit of the sick and dying, in addition to what is contained in the seventh Part, may use what fellows:
Faith, part i. p. 59.
The Act of Hope, ibid., p. 6a
The Act of Charity, ibid., p. 61.
The Method of awakening Contrition, part iii. § 9 p. 158.
How a sinner is to be animated with hope of the divine mercy, ibid § to, p. 160.
The Litany of Penitents, collected out of Holy Scripture, p. 1 67.
The most elegant Prayer of S. Bernard for forgiveness of sins, p. 178.
The Lord’s Prayer, adapted to the use of Penitents, p. 180.
The Act of Compunction and Hatred for Sin, part iv. p. 245
The Exercise of Faith, Hope, and Charity, p. 260, and the following pages.
The Exercise of Resignation, p. 264.
The Exercise of Contempt of earthly things, p. 265.
The Exercise of Patience, p. 268.
The Exercise of great merit, &c., p. 278.
The good reader will find much that is proper for this purpose in part vi., on the Lord's Passion; especially in the Colloquy between Christ and Man.
Also the Litany of the Lord’s Passion, p. 452.
The Aspirations in verse, to the Members of Christ crucified, in the same part, p. 472, and other Prayers in reference to the Lord’s passion, p. 488.
Lastly, the Colloquy in this very part vii. will supply much that unit be useful as well as agreeable to the sick.
The Prayer to the Blessed Virgin for a happy death, chap. vii. p. 605.
The Litany and the Lord’s Prayer, adapted to the sick and dying, Part vii. § 2, p. 610, and following pages.
Also the “Protestations,” &c.,p. 631.
To all of which may be added some Select Forms and Holy Sentences for the exercise of the Theological Virtues, &c., especially proper at the time of death.
FOR THE EXERCISE OF FAITH.
I believe in God the Father, who has created me to his image and likeness.
And in Jesus Christ my Saviour, who has redeemed me with his Blood.
And in the Holy Ghost, who has sanctified me in Baptism.
I believe, Lord; increase my Faith.
I believe that my Redeemer lives; and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth; and in my flesh I shall see God my Saviour.
I believe that no word is impossible with God.
I believe whatever the Son of God hath spoken; there is nothing truer than his word of Truth.
I believe, Lord Jesus, that thou art Christ the Son of the living God, who camest into this world, not to destroy but to save us.
I believe whatever the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church has believed and proposed to my belief from Christ and his Apostles until now, the rock and foundation of which Church is Christ Jesus, who has said: Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Here let the Apostles’ Creed he said, I believe, after which add: In this faith I was born and baptized; in this faith I have lived; and in this, by the grace of God, I desire to die. May the grace and charity of Jesus Christ my Saviour aid and strengthen me against all temptation, &c.
See the Act of Faith, part i. P. 59.
FOR THE EXERCISE OF HOPE.
The passages to this effect in the Psalms, Prophets, and Gospels, are without number: some of which we will cull from them as they occur to our memory. To a dying person nothing is so necessary as the retention in the mind of a most firm hope of the divine mercy; since it is this which it is the enemy's chief endeavour to uproot.
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?
Though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for thou art with me.
In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy justice.
The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. It is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me.
I set the Lord always in my sight, for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved.
Therefore my heart has been glad, and my tongue has rejoiced; moreover, my flesh also shall rest in hope.
Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered, and let them that hate him flee before his face; as smoke vanishes, so let them vanish away; as wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
The Lord is nigh to them that are of a contrite heart, and he will save the humble of spirit.
Why art thou sad, O my soul, and why dost thou trouble me?
Hope in God, for I will still give praise to him, the salvation of my countenance, and my God.[1]
God so loved the world as to give his only-begotten Son; that whosoever believes in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God sent not his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him.
But if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the just: and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
Amen, amen, I say to you, he that hears my word, and believes him that sent me, has everlasting life, and comes not into judgment, but is passed from death to life.
All that the Father gives me shall come to me, and him that comes to me, I will not cast out. Amen, amen, I say to you. He that believes in me has everlasting life.
I am the Resurrection and the Life; he that believes in me, although he be dead, shall live; and every one that lives and believes in me, shall not die for ever.[2]
If God be for us, who is
against us? He that spared
not even his own Son, but
delivered him up for us all,
how has he not also with
him given us all things?
Who shall lay anything to
the charge of the Elect of
God? God who justifies.
Who is he that shall condemn? Christ Jesus, who
died, yea, who rose also
again, who is at the right
hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us.[3]
None of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself. For whether we live, we live to the Lord; or whether we die, we die to the Lord; therefore, whether we live, or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.
For we know that if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven. For in this also we groan, desiring to be clothed over with our habitation that is from heaven, yet so that we may be found clothed, not naked.
Now shall Christ be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. To be with Christ is by much the better.[4] Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we wait for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ; who will reform the body of our lowness, made like the body of his glory.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief.
He that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.
Be thou faithful until death, and I will give thee the crown of life.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he is bountiful to forgive. For my thoughts, ate not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways. For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.
Is it my will that a sinner should die, and not that he should be converted from his ways, and live? Be converted and do penance for all your iniquities; and iniquity shall not be your ruin. For I desire not the death of him that dies, says the Lord God, return ye, and live.
As I live, says the Lord God, I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.' Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways. And why will you die, O House of Israel?
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. As a father has compassion on his children, so has the Lord compassion on them that fear him: for he knows our frame.
The Lord is sweet to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works. The Lord lifts up all that fall, and sets up all that are cast down.
The Pharisees said to the disciples of Jesus: Why does your master eat with publicans and sinners? But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are sick. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners.
Come to me, all you that labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you, and you shall find rest to your souls.
I am the good Shepherd, and I know my sheep, and mine know me; as the FaPage:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/709 Page:TheParadiseOfTheChristianSoul.djvu/710 I adore thee and bless thee, O Jesus Christ, because by thy Cross thou hast redeemed the world. Save me, O Saviour of the world, who hast redeemed me by thy Cross and Blood. Draw me to thee, O good Jesus, who hast said: When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all things to myself. Draw me and hold me fast, that no one may snatch me out of thy hand, and that nothing may ever separate me from thee!
O most merciful Jesus! by thy precious Blood, which it has been thy will to shed for sinners. I beseech thee wash away all my iniquities.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me! Blood of Christ, purify me! Body of Christ, save me! Water from the Side of Christ, wash me! Passion of Christ, strengthen me! O good Jesus, hear me! Hide me within thy Wounds; suffer me not, O good Jesus, to be separated from thee; in the hour of my death call me, and command me to come to thee, that with thy Saints I may praise thee for evermore!
O Jesus Christ, my Creator and my Redeemer; I give myself up to thee entirely, do not thrust me from thee!
I come to thee! do not drive me away!
Cast me not away from thy face, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Let not my iniquity destroy me, for it was thy almighty goodness that created me!
Look upon me with the eyes of thy mercy, O Lord Jesus Christ, everlasting King, God, and Man, crucified for man's sake! Hearken to me who place my hope in thee; have mercy on me that am full of miseries and sins, thou who never wilt stay the flow of the fountain of mercy! Save me, O saving Victim, offered for me and all mankind on the gibbet of the Cross!
Hail, thou generous and precious Blood, that flowest from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ, and washest away the sins of the whole world! Remember thy creature, ‘.O Lord, whom thou hast redeemed with thy own Blood!
God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of my Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world!
Lo, I see thee, my sweetest Saviour, hanging on the Cross, with thy Arms stretched out and thy Head bowed down, as though ready to embrace us, and with mildest voice inviting us all to thee: Come to me, all you that labour and are burdened, and I will refresh you!
Behold, O Lord, I come; do to me according to thy word, and refresh me: for I mercy; receive my spirit in come weary and laden with the weight of my sins; deal kindly with thy servant, thou who hast borne our infirmities and our labours on the Cross!
PRAYER
To Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world.
O Jesus Christ, the Fountain of Mercy, show to me, thy poor wretched creature, thy mercy! help me in this my last necessity! O my Creator and my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, interpose thy Passion, thy Cross, and thy Death, between thy judgment and my soul!
I give myself up to thee entirely; do not thrust me from thee! I come to thee; do not drive me away! Now,
O Lord, according to thy will, deal mercifully with me, and bid that my spirit be received in peace; thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth; let, O Lord Jesu, these sweet words sound in the ears of my soul: This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise!
Receive me, O crucified Jesus, in thy loving arms, into which I throw myself as I behold them stretched out for me upon the Cross! Receive me to thy embraces, which I long for, and draw to thyself my soul; receive me, O good Jesus, in thy peace! Amen.
Enlighten, O good Jesus, my eyes, that I never sleep in death; lest at any time my enemy say: I have prevailed against him!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, interpose thy Passion, thy Cross, and thy Death between thy judgment and my soul!
Remember not, O good Jesus, my iniquities, let thy mercies speedily prevent me, for I am become exceeding poor!
O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, for the honour and power of thy blessed Passion, command that I be enrolled into the number of thy Elect!
Enter not, O most merciful Jesus, into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight no man living shall be justified!
One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life!
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy Name; the just wait for me, until thou reward me!
Uphold me according to thy word, and I shall live; and let me not be confounded
in my expectation![5] HOLY AND EARNEST ASPIRATIONS,
Most useful during the agony of death.
O eternal Father! I am that most unworthy servant whom thou hast so loved as to give for him thy only-begotten Son. In this hour deal mercifully with thy servant, that his precious Blood may not be lost in me. For what profit have I in the Blood of my Redeemer, if I go down into corruption?
O Christ Jesus! I am that lost sheep which thou leftest the ninety and nine in the wilderness to seek with so much toil, and bring back upon thy shoulders. Thou art the Good Shepherd who hast laid down thy life for thy sheep. Oh, seek thy servant, for I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost! Let not him who even now goes about like a lion, roaring and seeking whom he may devour, snatch me away! Deliver me, O Lord, out of the mouth of the lion, &c.
O Jesus, I am that unhappy man who, in going down from Jerusalem, fell among robbers, and, after receiving many wounds, have been left half dead. But thou art my Physician, and that true Samaritan who hast been moved with compassion towards me, and hast bound up my wounds, nay, and hast even prepared for me a medicine of thy own Blood and wounds. Thou art he who hast borne our infirmities, and by whose bruises we are healed. Have mercy on me, O Lord, in this my last hour! O Lord, make haste to help me ere my soul die and perish for ever I O Jesus, I am that unhappy sinner, and one that is guilty of many crimes. But thou art my Advocate with the Father, and the Propitiation for my sins. For thou wiliest not the death of the sinner, but his life. It was to save sinners that thou earnest into this world. Show mercy to me, therefore, in this last hour of my life! Be my Mediator and Advocate with the Father! O good Jesu, be merciful to me a sinner, kc. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit, kc.