Exercise of Preparation for Death: To Which Has Been Added Devotions for the Anniversary of Your Baptism and Birth

Death is usually preceded by such violent throes or intense weakness that the dying person is unable to direct his thoughts to God and cannot pay Him the homage owed to His divine majesty at that crucial time. Therefore, it is extremely advisable to anticipate this disability by setting aside a few days each year to carry out now what one ought rightfully to render to God at the hour of death. St. Gertrude tells us that when she had once performed this exercise, Our Lord revealed that it was most pleasing to Him, and He promised to set aside her preparation and keep it for the day of her death. You should be confident that in His goodness He will give this grace to you also, if you make use of the same exercise. For this purpose it would be well to devote ten days to a series of ten meditations and spiritual exercises in preparation for a Christian and holy death. I now present them in due order, showing how they are to be carried out. Saint John Eudes also wrote devotions for birthdays and for the anniversary of our Baptism. How many of us know the date of that wonderful day when original sin was washed from our soul? Shouldn't we thank Almighty God for such a great gift?