747 the seventh word to the eternal Father, so we also entrust our spirits to Him: our thoughts, our souls, and our consciences. When we recognize the disease caused by our vices under which weight we lament, just coming to our senses is not enough. It is not enough to wash out our sins through sincere penance and to properly discard evil habits. We must add [to this] the avoidance of new sins. We must add the steady care for preventing the return of the disease — as doctors say — so that we do not return to the vomit in the disgusting manner of dogs; so that we might not get entangled in the diabolical snares, from which we have been set free thanks to the grace of God. But I ask: Who could do this on his own strength? Who could accomplish this even employing the greatest ingenuity, if not supported by Christ or strengthened by Him, without whomwe can do nothing, nothing at all? We must then often sigh to Jesus, our Helper, and with great zeal — as the Church prescribes — always repeating: “Into [Y]our hands,” Lord, “I commend my spirit; [Y]ou will redeem me, LORD, God of truth” (cf. Ps 31:6) [NAB]. I commend then my spirit into Your hands, in every hour, in every place, in every moment, but especially the spirit as it departs from the body. “Keep me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of [Y]our wings” (Ps 17:8). Amen.
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