There was a time within Catholicism that men were learnt to think every day about Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell.
Some day, and it could be today for Raider Fan, we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and so we must act like men and be prepared to be judged and, Lord have Mercy, we will require grace to get right before we reach that place.
Preparation
for death
My
journey toward eternity, dear Lord, is encompassed round about by
powerful enemies of my soul. I live in fear and trembling, especially
at the thought of the hour of death, on which my eternity will
depend, and of the fearful struggle that the devil will then have to
wage against me, knowing that little time is left for him to
accomplish my eternal ruin. I desire, therefore, O Lord, to prepare
myself for it from this hour, by offering Thee this day, in view of
my last hour, those protestations of faith and love for Thee, which
are so effectual in repressing and bringing to naught all the crafty
and wicked arts of the enemy and which I resolve to oppose to him at
that moment of such grave consequence, even though he should dare
alone to attack with his deceits the peace and tranquillity of my
spirit.
I, ..., in the presence of the Most Holy Trinity,
the blessed Virgin Mary, my holy Guardian Angel and the entire
heavenly host, protest that I wish to live and die under the standard
of the Holy Cross. I firmly believe all that our Holy Mother, the
Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church, believes and teaches. It is my
steadfast intention to die in this holy faith, in which all the holy
Martyrs, Confessors and Virgins of Christ have died, as well as all
those who have saved their souls. If the devil should tempt me to
despair because of the multitude and grievousness of my sins, I
protest that from this day forth I firmly hope in the infinite mercy
of God, who will not suffer Himself to be overcome by my sins, and in
the Precious Blood of Jesus which has washed them all away.
If
the devil should assail me with temptations to presumption by reason
of the small amount of good which by the help of God I may have been
able to accomplish, I confess from this day forth that I deserve Hell
a thousand times by my sins and I entrust myself wholly to the
infinite goodness of God, through Whose grace alone I am what I am.
Finally,
if the evil spirit should suggest to me that the pains inflicted upon
me by our Lord in that last hour of my life are too heavy to bear, I
protest now that all will be as nothing in comparison with the
punishments I have deserved throughout life. I thank God that He
should deign to give me by these sufferings an opportunity in this
life to discharge my debt to Him, which I should have to pay
hereafter in the pains of Purgatory.
In
the bitterness of my soul I call to remembrance all my years; I see
my iniquities, I confess them and detest them. Ashamed and sorrowful
I turn to Thee, my God, my Creator and my Redeemer. Forgive me, O
Lord, by the multitude of Thy mercies; forgive Thy servant whom Thou
hast redeemed by Thy Precious Blood.
My
God, I turn to Thee, I call upon Thee, I trust in Thee; to Thine
infinite goodness I commit the entire reckoning of my life. I have
sinned exceedingly; enter not into judgment with Thy servant, who
surrenders to Thee and confesses his guilt. Of myself I cannot make
satisfaction unto Thee for my countless sins: I have not wherewith to
pay Thee, and my debt is infinite. But Thy Son hath shed His Blood
for me, and greater than all mine iniquity is Thy mercy.
O
Jesus, be my Saviour! At the hour of my fearful crossing to eternity
put to flight the enemy of my soul; grant me grace to overcome every
difficulty, Thou who alone doest mighty wonders.
Lord,
according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies I shall enter into
Thy dwelling place. Trusting in Thy pity, I commend my spirit into
Thy hands!
May
the Blessed Virgin Mary and my Guardian Angel accompany my soul into
the heavenly country. Amen.