79 on having meetings disordered affections and pursuing holiness. Or you may read a good book on this matter — namely, one that will exhort everyone quietly, yet efficaciously to loving God, following in Christ’s footsteps, observing religious discipline and persevering in holy penance. After the conference, some mortification or prayer or act of virtue will be assigned to be exercised by everyone during the coming week. If the occasion or necessity shall have demanded it, during the same gathering, the Superior with the senior [members] will be able to treat whatever concerns the welfare of the community. 5. Lastly, everyone will be gathered together — by the common signal of the bell — to help the soul of any member departing from this human life. They will commend him with pious admonition, prayers and humble tears to God’s goodness and mercy, striving with all fraternal strength that in this agony no one would be in danger concerning his own salvation. Indeed, the Superior will, with greatest charity, be certain to give the sick not only the bodily medicine they need at the right time but especially to give them the remedies for eternal life. These are: earnest confession of sins, and detesting of them, public declaration of [one’s] faith, protesting against the plotting of the Devil, the handing over of his soul to the hands of God and his confessor, devoted reception of the Holy Eucharist and of Extreme Unction, the invoking of heavenly aid, and absolute hope and confidence in the merits of our Savior. 6. The Church’s customary prayers at the side of the dying39 are to be said devotedly. Their soul should be fervently entrusted to God. The body of the deceased should be fittingly washed, and piously laid to rest within three days. As quickly as possible, the news of the death should be spread amongst the other houses, so that the deceased [member] may be helped — with the sacrifice of Masses and with prayers and mortifications — by everyone. Together, all of you may bless the merciful God of Heaven, who, though unworthy, you serve on earth.40 39 Literally, “the agonizing [one].” 40 Other editions close with the inscription “God’s Honor and Glory alone.”
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